Fireproofing Composition. of ammonium Carbonate of ammo
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
Fireproofing Composition.
I, GUSTAVE XAVIER DIME, residing at 216, West 108th Street, New York, in
the County and State of New York, United States of America, Hotel Keeper,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My new composition is designed for use in the treatment of wood, fabrics,
laces and other similar articles and consists of the following ingredients com-
bined substantially in the proportions stated.
Chloride of ammonium
Carbonate of ammonium]
Microcosmic salt
92.88 parts
0.46 part
6.66 parts
100.00 parts
In addition to the above ingredients, I may employ a certain quantity of
ammonium alum, equaling in bulk preferably ½ of the above composition
which in treating wood with the resulting composition, will draw the fibres of
the wood more closely together aiding in the preservation thereof against moth
and decay, and adding greatly to the strength of the wood.
The microcosmic salt above specified may be used either in a dry state or in
the form of a concentrated solution, and in practice, the chloride of ammonium
and carbonate of ammonium are first mixed in solution and the resulting mix-
ture is filtered and crystalized if desired, and then mixed with the microcosmic
salt.
I use this mixture of chloride of ammonium and carbonate of ammonium
because the results obtained thereby are vitally superior to the results obtained
from the use of either commercial ammonium chloride or alleged chemically
pure ammonium chloride. Each of these latter substances possesses hygros-
copic qualities due to the free acid contained therein, and the hygroscopic quali-
ties render the use of the respective substances exceedingly undesirable. The
commercial ammonium chloride also contains numerous impurities which if
the latter were used would discolor fabrics treated therewith.
Mixing ammonium carbonate with ammonium chloride in the proportion
specified neutralizes the free acid in the latter destroying the hygroscopic quali-
ties thereof and at the same time renders insoluble the lime and iron which may
be therein, neutralizing any discoloring tendency the ammonium chloride may
possess.
If wood is to be treated or rendered fire-proof, the said composition is dissolved
or reduced to the form of a solution and heated, and the wood after having been
first thoroughly dried in a kiln or in any suitable manner is immersed in said
solution, and the said solution is preferably retained in a heated condition,
and the wood remains therein until it is thoroughly saturated or soaked with
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митоп LU
the above ingredients, I may employ a certain quantity of
ammonium alum, equaling in bulk preferably 18 of the above composition
which in treating wood with the resulting composition, will draw the fibres of
the wood more closely together aiding in the preservation thereof against moth
and decay, and adding greatly to the strength of the wood.
The microcosmic salt above specified may be used either in a dry state or in
the form of a concentrated solution, and in practice, the chloride of ammonium
and carbonate of ammonium are first mixed in solution and the resulting mix-
ture is filtered and crystalized if desired, and then mixed with the microcosmic
salt.
I use this mixture of chloride of ammonium and carbonate of ammonium
because the results obtained thereby are vitally superior to the results obtained
from the use of either commercial ammonium chloride or alleged chemically
pure ammonium chloride. Each of these latter substances possesses hygros-
copic qualities due to the free acid contained therein, and the hygroscopic quali-
ties render the use of the respective substances exceedingly undesirable. The
commercial ammonium chloride also contains numerous impurities which if
the latter were used would discolor fabrics treated therewith.
Mixing ammonium carbonate with ammonium chloride in the proportion
specified neutralizes the free acid in the latter destroying the hygroscopic quali-
ties thereof and at the same time renders insoluble the lime and iron which may
be therein, neutralizing any discoloring tendency the ammonium chloride may
possess.
If wood is to be treated or rendered fire-proof, the said composition is dissolved
or reduced to the form of a solution and heated, and the wood after having been
first thoroughly dried in a kiln or in any suitable manner is immersed in said
solution, and the said solution is preferably retained in a heated condition,
and the wood remains therein until it is thoroughly saturated or soaked with
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page_text: the solution and sinks to the bottom thereof, after which it is taken out and
dried for use.
Before subjecting wood to treatment with my fireproofing composition, I
may find it preferably to treat the wood with steam, which latter treatment
opens up the pores of the wood' allowing an increased penetration thereof by
the fireproofing composition.
If a fabric, lace or similar article is to be treated, it is simply immersed in
the solution and taken therefrom and dried..
If the composition is used in connection with celluloid, it is placed in the
material of which the celluloid is composed when the latter is being made, the
composition being dry or in the form of a powder, and constituting about one-
quarter in weight of the substance from which the celluloid is made.
When the composition of chloride of ammonium, carbonate of ammonium and
microcosmic salt compounded as above described is reduced to solution and heated,
the following chemical reaction takes place:-Microcosmic salt no longer exists
but is replaced by dihydrogen sodium orthophosphate. When cooled this latter
is replaced by sodium hexametaphosphate.
My improved composition is perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for
which it is intended, and is much cheaper to manufacture than any other
article of this class heretofore produced, and any article treated therewith is
rendered absolutely fire-proof.
It will also be apparent that many other articles besides those herein before
named may be treated in a similar manner or for a similar purpose, and the
proportions of the parts specified may be slightly changed without altering the
character of the composition.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The herein described composition of matter, consisting of chloride of
ammonium, carbonate of ammonium and microcosmic salt, substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
2. The herein described composition of matter, consisting of chloride of
ammonium, 92.88 parts, carbonate of ammonium 0.46, and microcosmic salt
6.66 parts, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 8th day of June 1899
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.