IMPROVED COMPOSITIONS FOR PRESERVING METALS FROM OXIDATION, CORROSION, AND GALVANIC ACTION; FOR PROTECTING METALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AGAINST THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF SEA WATER, AND PREVENTING THEIR FOULING; FOR PROTECTING WOOD FROM THE ATTACKS OF ANIMALCULE AND PRESERVING WOOD FROM DAMP, ROT, AND DECAY; FOR EXCLUDING DAMP PROM WALLS; AND FOR USE IN SUBMARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPHY
Year: 1866

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Francis de Briou, Doctor of
Medicine, of St. George's Lodge, 19, Marlborough Hill, St. John's
Wood, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
COMPOSITIONS FOR PRESERVING METALS FROM OXIDATION, CORROSION, AND
GALVANIC ACTION; FOR PROTECTING METALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
SHIPS AGAINST THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF SEA WATER, AND PREVENTING
THEIR FOULING; FOR PROTECTING WOOD FROM THE ATTACKS OF ANIMALCULE
AND PRESERVING WOOD FROM DAMP, ROT, AND DECAY; FOR EXCLUDING DAMP
PROM WALLS; AND FOR USE IN SUBMARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPHY."
Sealed the 1st June 1866, and dated the 8th February 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Francis
de Briou at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 8th February 1866.
I HENRY EDWARD FRANCIS DE BRIOU Doctor of Medicine of St.
George's Lodge 19 Marlborough Hill St. John's Wood in the County
of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED COMPOSITIONS FOR PRESERVING METALS FROM OXIDATION CORROSION
AND GALVANIC ACTION, FOR PROTECTING METALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
SHIPS AGAINST THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF SEA WATER AND PREVENTING THEIR
FOULING FOR PROTECTING WOOD FROM THE ATTACKS OF ANIMALCULE AND PRE-
17067.

page_text: SERVING WOOD FROM DAMP ROT AND DECAY, FOR EXCLUDING DAMP FROM WALLS
AND FOR USE IN SUBMARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPHY" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improved compositions for preserving
metals from oxidation corrosion and galvanic action, for protecting metals
used in the construction of ships against the destructive effects of sea water
and preventing their fouling, for protecting wood from the attacks of ani-
malculæ and preserving wood from damp rot and decay, for excluding
damp from walls and for use in submarine telegraphy.
I take a composition made with vulcanized india-rubber such as is
described in the Specification of a former Patent granted to me and dated
the 19th July 1864 No. 1804 and I render the composition fluid or semi-
fluid by compounding it with bisulphide of carbon I allow the mixed
materials to stand in closed vessels for 8 or 10 days and I agitate the
mixture from time to time. The composition can thus be reduced to the
consistence of common paint or varnish and may be applied in a similar
manner. The composition as described in my said former Specification
consisted of vulcanized india-rubber and mineral pitch I now in some
cases use vegetable pitch or resin in place of mineral pitch, I also in some
cases according to my present Invention add to the composition other
substances to enable it the better to resist the attacks of marine animals.
I take a substance formed by the decomposition of concentrated hydro-
cyanic acid in dry chlorine (a kind of chloride of cyanogen) to which I
add the cyanide of mercury and the ferrocyanide of copper in equal pro-
portions thus forming a compound which readily mixes with the vulcanized
india-rubber composition. The proportions are,-
Hydrocyanic acid and chlorine (chlorid of cyan) 1 ounce
Chlorocyanide of mercury
Ferrocyanide of copper
Vulcanized india-rubber composition
-
2 ounces
-
2 ounces
-
25 lbs.
This preparation is principally used for copper zinc the brasses and
alloys. For iron I sometimes replace the cyanide of mercury by Prussian
blue in the proportion of 3 ounces for 25 lbs. of vulcanized india-rubber
composition.
For submerged wood, copper, zinc or iron I mix together-
Arsenite of copper
.ד
-
5 ounces

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Edward. Francis de Briou in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 8th August 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I HENRY
EDWARD FRANCIS DE BRIOU Doctor of Medicine of St. George's Lodge
19 Marlborough Hill St. John's Wood in the County of Middlesex send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Eighth day of February in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign did for Herself Her heirs and successors give and
grant unto me the said Henry Edward Francis de Briou Her special
licence that I the said Henry Edward Francis de Briou my executors
administrators and assigns or such others as I the said Henry Edward
Francis de Briou my executors administrators and assigns should at any
time agree with and no others from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed should and lawfully might make
use exercise and vend within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland the Channel Islands and Isle of Man an Invention for "IMPROVED
COMPOSITIONS FOR PRESERVING METALS FROM OXIDATION CORROSION AND GALVANIC
ACTION FOR PROTECTING METALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AGAINST THE
DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF SEA WATER AND PREVENTING THEIR FOULING FOR PRO-
TECTING WOOD FROM THE ATTACKS OF ANIMALCULE AND PRESERVING WOOD FROM
DAMP ROT AND DECAY FOR EXCLUDING DAMP FROM WALLS AND FOR USE IN SUB-
MARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPHY," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I the said Henry Edward Francis de Briou my executors
nistrators by an instrument in writing under my or their or
their hands and seals should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention and in what manner the same was to be
performed and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
or admi-
one of
NOW KNOW YE that I the said Henry Edward Francis de Briou
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof that is to say
This Invention has for its object improved compositions for preserving

page_text: metals from oxidation corrosion and galvanic action for protecting metals
used in the construction of ships against the destructive effects of sea
water and preventing their fouling for protecting wood from the attacks
of animalculæ and preserving wood from damp rot and decay for
excluding damp from walls and for use in submarine and other telegraphy.
I take a composition made with vulcanized india-rubber such as is
described in the Specification of a former Patent granted to me and dated
the 19th July 1864 No. 1804 or made in accordance with a part of my
present Invention by the substitution of vegetable pitch or resin for
mineral pitch and I render the composition fluid or semi-fluid by com-
pounding it with bisulphide of carbon. In preparing such a composition
I prefer to proceed as follows:-I take say 66 pounds of vulcanized india-
rubber and cut it into small pieces then I place it in a large open kettle
by preference of copper and heat it by a fire underneath the contents of
the kettle are constantly stirred until all the india-rubber is reduced to a
liquid state and care is constantly taken not to apply more heat than is
necessary this will be about 360° Fahrenheit I then add 20 lbs. of
vegetable pitch or asphaltum (the former by preference) and continue the
heat and the stirring until it is melted and thoroughly mixed afterwards
I add 10 lbs. of shellac and 10 lbs. of common rosin and in a similar
manner incorporate these with the other ingredients. These operations will
require usually from three to six hours according to the quantity operated
оп. The contents of the kettle should be carefully stirred the whole time
then the fire is withdrawn and the composition is poured or ladled out into
wooden or metal vessels to cool and harden. Vulcanized india-rubber
decomposed by heat may be compounded with vegetable or mineral pitch
or resin in other proportions but the composition above described is that
which I prefer. The composition thus prepared I render fluid so that it
can be used without the aid of heat by means of bisulphide of carbon
I place it in closely-stopped vessels, together with bisulphide of carbon in
the proportion conveniently of 5 lbs. of composition to one gallon of
bisulphide of carbon the vessels should be shaken and turned about
daily for 8 or 10 days by which time the composition will be completely
dissolved and fit for use as a paint and otherwise. To spread the paint
over the surfaces to be protected I use common painters' brushes. The
paint which is kept ready for use in large tin jars hermetically closed is
poured out into paint pots such as are used by painters in small quantities
at a time and spread at once to prevent the evaporation of the bisulphide of

page_text: carbon and the consequent thickening of the paints. Two coats are necessary
for ships' bottoms and other submerged substances and when it is used for
ships' bottoms poisonous compounds are incorporated with the outer coating
as herein-after specified. For objects exposed to atmospheric influences the
paint should be used more liquid. It is thinned by the addition of a propor-
tion of bisulphide of carbon, which varies according to the degree of consist-
ence required in the paint. For delicate artistic iron works or castings in
metals and alloys the paint must be very thin. A single coat is sufficient
but a varnish should be spread over it. Upon submerged wood the paint
is applied of the same consistence and prepared in the same manner as for
ships' bottoms. For timber left exposed to the air or employed for building
purposes or upon railways the paint ought to be thinner in order better to
penetrate the pores of the wood, one coat is sufficient. For submerged
wood two coats are used. Brick or stone walls can be covered on one or
both sides, one or two coats of the paint being employed. Felt used under
the copper sheathing of ships for roofing or other purposes is rendered
perfectly water-tight by being dipped into the fluid composition and made
to pass between two cylinders. Woollen cotton silk or other stuffs linen
canvass bands of every material can be rendered waterproof by being
coated with the liquid composition. Wrapping paper cardboard and other
kinds of paper are made waterproof by spreading a thin coat of the paint
between two sheets and passing them between hot cylinders. As regards
its employ in submarine and aërial telegraphy, I use it in submarine cables
to form the core which surrounds the conducting wires I pass the core
through semi-fluid cold paint or composition and then through a die to
equalize the coating. I also saturate with the paint in a very liquid con-
dition the inner covering of the core whether made of hemp or other
fibrous material, and the outer covering when a hempen one is used and I
employ it as a paint for the outer covering when this is made of iron wires
instead of hemp. In aerial telegraphy I use it as a liquid paint for satu-
rating narrow bands woven with hemp or other fibrous material and I wind
them round the conductors in order to effect insulation and to protect the
wires.
When it is desired that the composition shall resist the attacks of marine
animals I compound it with poisonous materials which I prepare as
follows: I take a substance formed by the decomposition of concentrated
hydrocyanic acid in dry chlorine (a kind of chloride of cyanogen) to
which I add the cyanide of mercury and the ferrocyanide of copper in

page_text: equal proportions thus forming a compound which readily mixes with the
vulcanized india-rubber composition. The proportions are,-
Hydrocyanic acid and chlorine (chloride of cyanogen) 1 ounce
Chlorocyanide of mercury
Ferrocyanide of copper
Vulcanized india-rubber composition
These ingredients are to be well stirred together.
-
2 ounces
- 2 ounces
25 lbs.
This preparation is principally used for copper zinc the brasses and
alloys. For iron I sometimes replace the cyanide of mercury by Prussian
blue in the proportion of 3 ounces for 25 lbs. of vulcanized india-rubber
composition.
For submerged wood, copper, zinc or iron I mix together,-
Arsenite of copper
Bicyanide of mercury
Vulcanized india-rubber composition
⚫ 5 ounces
2 ounces
- 25 lbs.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact
proportions above stated as these may be varied But what I claim is
the preparing compositions by compounding vulcanized india - rubber
rendered liquid by heat with vegetable pitch and resin (either together or
separately) as above described.
I also claim the combining bisulphide of carbon with compositions
such as the above or similar preparations made with mineral pitch so as to
obtain a paint - like composition which can be applied without the aid
of heat.
I also claim the combining with such paint-like compositions the poisonous
ingredients herein-before specified.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Edward Francis de Briou have
hereunto set my hand and seal this Sixth day of August in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
H. DE BRIOU. (L.S.)