The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-10
FLOORING MADE OF WOOD PULP.
MOsaics Said to he Superior to Stone
The Mode of Manufacture.

The Mode of Manufacture.
New York Engineer.
In the latest reports of the local Indus
claimed to be entirely lew, for manufacture
ing floor mosaics from wood pulp, an innova-
ton which is expected to produce important
distinguished from the known processes of
manufacturing sectional or mosaic floors by
cording to it are not liable to any change
of temperature, and are not like stone. but
similar to wood in all essential qualities.
The process is as follows:
Small particles of wood, such as sawdust,
wood flour, fine shavings, etc, are soaked in
a mixture of shellac and alcohol 50 that the
thoroughly dried. A cement consisting of
fresh cheese Whey 1curd) and Stacked lime
is then prepared. The cement is thinned
with water and then mixed thoroughly with.
the already dry wood particles in such a
uniform. Particular care is taken to render
the cement as hin as possible, SO that it
will viii i distribute eac l,se nart ieLsiy Of ap Wood %ani ae nay.
fectly as the sheliac solution. The mixture
thus produced is allowed to dry until it is
for in the latter case the curd would lose its
put into heated mosaic molds of the desired
under the presses. As a result of the heat,
the shellac softens, regaining it's adhesive
rapidly, so that both of the substances. the
shellac as we'll as the cement. unite under
the pressure SO perfectly WITH the WOOD
particles that the wood mass resulting may,
within a few minutes. be taken out of the
molds without losing the form received.
After the cooling process and complete
hardening these mosaies, 1t is claimed, are
far less susceptible to any change of tenn
perature or moisture than any natural
wood. 1t is absolutely necessary that the
use of every other ingredient, especially If
of an oily or fatty character. should be
avoided in this process, as otherwise the
close union of the shellac with the curd
cement would be retarded or even prevented.
Wood pulp for the manufacture OF vari-
colored mosaicS is prepared in the following
manner: The particles of different varieties
of wood are put through the process sepa-
rately, so that the natural color Of the wood
itself is brought into prominence. Dyes,
dissolved in alcohol, are mixed with the
shellac solution before the wood particles
are coated. The wood particles are first
colored with dyes. dissolved in water, and
allowed to dry we'll before the coating with
shellac solution. For simple floors it sufices
TO manufacture mosaicS of different cOlors,
changing them at pleasure SO as to form a
variety of patterns. The manufacture of
patfern or fancy wood mosa;cs is proceeded
with as follows: Pattern molds. of the re-
ures), are fitted into the plain mold; each
section of the design is filed with the wood
prlp. dyed as before described, and the
pattern mold removed, after which the
whole, thus freely outlined, is subjected to
heat andrpressure, as before mentioned.
the result being perfect vari-colored fancy
mosaic. This wood mosaic. in spite of its
tains all the essential properties of wood.
being thus particularly we'll adapted for use
as faoas covers in living rooms and similar
purposeS.