Smyrna times., 1878-06-12
Vuloanized Fibre.
AN INTERESTING WILMINGTON MANUFACTURE
PAPER TRANSFORMED INTO A SUBSTANCE
TOUGHER AND HARDER THAN SOLE
LEATHER-THE PROCESS.

One of the most remarkable and inter
esting manufacturing materials of modern
invention is that made by the Vucanized
Fibre Company, of this city. 1t is now
applied to great variety of purposes, and
its uses are capable of almost indefinite eX-
tension. The material is prepared from
thick, spongy reddish-brown paperspecially |
made for the purpose but after going |
through the necessary process, it practically
ceases to be paper, the chemical action it |
undergoes entirely changing its character. |
The process of making the raw material as
seen at the mills is somewhat as follows
The paper is run from large roller onto !
two others passing on its Yay through a |
powerful chemical solution. Comparatively |
little pressure is used in this portion of the |
process, yet so or 80 sheets, which placed |
together would ordinarily have thickness
of near an inch, undergo natural contrac- |
ton, which reduces them to one-fourth
that thickness. When taken from the
rollers the heavy sheets Of saturated paper
are placed in a large tank of water, and
successfully moved from tank to tank until
almost entirely freed from the chemicals
which were used in their preparation. TO
make the heavier forms OF material months
of this soaking are required. When taken
from the last tank the transformed paper
is dried either by artificial heat or by that
of the sun, and the resulting substance is a
homogeneous mass without seams or lamina,
and of almost metallic hardness. The
sheets are several square yards in area and
vary in thickness, the lighter ones being
softer and more plant than those of heavier
| make.
Although, as stated above, the material
undergoes considerable contraction during
! the process of manufacture, it is still
| further reduced and also smoethed and
| hattened by heavy press. The large
sheets thus prepared are ready to be made
up into the many articles for which this
material is used. The company's largest
orders are for railway supplies. This in
cludes fish-bolt washers, oil box covers,
"dust guards" for the axles of cars and
other similar matters. The company sell
nearly quarter of million track bolt
washers per month. The great advantage
of this material for many Of these uses is
the fact Of its being impervious to oil, and
on this account it has supplanted rubber
and certain other forms of prepared paper
in certain machinery. The vulcanized
fibre also, to a great extent, ressts chemical
action. One place in which t has supplied
an important want is in the condense pipes
|
without resulting injury to the action Of
salt water and to the constant strain pro
duced by the alternate contraction and eX-
pansion of the pipes. =
From the scraps left III the cutting OF
larger articles, immense quantities of car
1 riage washers are made. "Rovng cans,
tall cylindrical vessel used in cotton mills
are now made of this material. Tin was
formerly used in making this particular
article, but the fibre is found in every re
spect Il superior material. 1t is practically
| impossible to break an article made of thi
e fibre. One of these cans may be kclleC
r across the room, and when picked VI
shows no mark whatever. Trunks an,
valises made of it defy the malice of rail
is way oaicials and hackmen. In handlin
. the material it is dealt with much as if
n were wood, being sawn, or cut or turned
1t Unfortunately it does not admit Of mould
n ing which would obvate the great vast
e necessary in cutting out small articles fror
ct large sheets. perforated chair seat mad
;" from vulcanized fibre is said to be as chea
Is as the woodena naone, and more elastic an
n, durable.
u As yet it has not largely been applied
ot making ornamental articles; but its beaut
he of finish makes it particularly suitable f
III such purposes. Very handsome napki
ne rings are made of it, as hard as bone and
10 tough as leather. When mads up in
n these articles the material is transformt
n, beyond recognition; for it is capable of /
eir ceiving various colors, and is used both
tie the polished and unpublished state.
ta- cylinder of it when black looks like she
ar iron, and when the black fibre is made in
ny solid rectangular blocks it is almost impC
re sible to tell it from ebony. walkin
,se stick Of vulcanized fibre might be takC
IS, for any one of q halfdOzen materia
* Some time since the company here
no ceived from the English Post Office !
Die partment specimens of their hollow rubh
is cylinders used in delivering the m
of through London by the undergroul
nd pneumatic tubes. The company have M
lti- sent on a similar colinder of the vulcaniz
re- fibre with u bid for furnishing the thirty
I'VE forty thousand needed for the yea
It'll supply.
mas The vulcanized fibre is not new II
us- terial, but for many years was almost u
us less by reason of the expense incurred
ces preparing it. This, however, has be
my Obviated; for the company are now wo
or ing under an exclusive patent for proc
ely by which nearly all the chemicals,
the chief items of expense in making
rest fibre, can be reclaimed for repeated u
'ide This patent, of course, gives them
|ah. monopoly of the trade, and they now sc
immense quantities of the manufactu
goods and raw material to all parts of
aru United States and even to Europe.
late ono who knows the oraot numbe1 Of =
ing to which vulcanized fibre has already b
j., re- put will hesitate to say where its furt
|on- application shall cease, and the comps
; IN IN arc constantly experimenting with the v
neil to improvements in the manufacture,
ares a especially to save, if possible, the mate
u IL wasted in cutting.
one, John S. Hoffecker formerly of Smyi
that is the general agent to introduce this
IL OF duct, and it is having a large demand
Eorn the Middle and Western States.--E
u OF EUening.
en a Speaker Corn of the Arkansas Leg
ostly ture is quite deaf.-Memphis A0alar
re is Probably on account of his ears b,
husky.-Graphic. But it won't inter
with Corn's talk.-Haversack RepubL
are We are AMAZED and shucked at t
the jokes.-,Sprinqfeld Republican. "cons
we reader" desires to know if this Corn
! ex- kernel. No, sir, he has a straight nj
eedy not grain % rye (awry. boston Bul
salt We begin to feel that we are ST.
Vhen working toward the time when cigar
r the statesmen and street corner lawyears
them no longer control puplic opinion in
pre- city, Wilmington EUery Evening.
ways @ss----
=. To-