Improved Fire-proof Compositions for Painting or Covering the Surfaces of Wood or other Materials,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
Improved Fire-proof Compositions for Painting or Covering the
Surfaces of Wood or other Materials,
We, HENRY VALENTINE SIMPSON, Lieutenant of the Royal Navy, and The
BRITISH NON-FLAMMABLE WOOD COMPANY LIMITED, both of Army & Navy Man-
sions No. 2, Victoria Street, in the County of London, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The so-called fire-proof paints heretofore employed may be generally considered
as consisting of two classes viz. those in which fire-proof ingredients are incor-
porated with a vehicle such as whitening, caseine-glue, size, or a mixture of the
same, or the like; and those in which the fire-proof ingredients are incorporated
with oil, white-lead or the like or with oil paint.
Moreover, the fire-proof ingredients used in these compositions may be broadly
classified in two groups viz. those that afford protection against fire by their
mechanical action, such for instance as asbestos, powdered glass or lime and those
which being disassociated by heat emit non-combustible gases such as the sul-
phate of ammonia or of zinc. A large proportion of the ingredients of the second
group are objectionable because of their detrimental effect upon the quality and
appearance of the pigments in the composition. And with regard to those of the
second group it is also found that when subjected to heat the gases are apt to
cause blisters on the painted surface which burst and thus leave portions of the
wood exposed and unprotected from the flames.
According to our present invention we make fireproof paint by combining
both classes of these ingredients and we have found as the result of exhaustive
experiments that the following while possessing more effectual fire-proof quali-
ties than those hereinabove referred to, are free from the objections to which the
latter are liable and can be advantageously used with pigments of any kind
or quality.
For a prime or best quality of white fire-proof paint we take ordinary zinc
white paint and mix with about 30 ozs. of the same the following ingre lients viz.
Silicate powder
Borax
Phosphate of Animonia
Chloride of Sodium
two (2) ozs.
two (2) ozs.
-
one (1) oz.
-
Me
one (1) oz.
These ingredients are preferably ground in oil before being mixed with the
zine white paint, but they may be incorporated together with the oxide of zinc
and the driers.
For another quality of fire-proof paint we use, instead of the white zinc paint,.
lead paint e. paint made with white lead, and mix with about thirty (30) ozs.
thereof, the above specified ingredients in the proportions stated. In some in-
stances we omit the phosphate of ammonia.
The above proportions may be varied and in some instances we replace or

page_text: partially replace the phosphate of ammonia by sal-ammoniac and sometimes
substitute hydrate of aluminium for the borax or a portion of it.
The above named substances should be thoroughly ground and if necessary
are thinned with oil and turpentine before being used.
For making a fireproof composition which can be employed for covering exterior
or out of door surfaces as well as interior surfaces we use whitening or lime,
in the place of white lead or zinc white paint, with fhe addition of about 2 ozs.
of size to act as a binding material and about 2 ozs. of linseed or similar oil to
enable the coating to resist the effects of the weather. We may also in this case
use silicate soda instead of the silicate powder.
Tiated thie lith day of Janno 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improved Fire-proof Compositions for Painting or Covering the
Surfaces of Wood or other Materials.
We, HENRY VALENTINE SIMPSON, Lieutenant of the Royal Navy, and THE
BRITISH NON-FLAMMABLE WOOD COMPANY LIMITED, both of Army & Navy Mau-
sions (No. 2), Victoria Street, in the County of London, 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:-
-
The so-called fire-proof paints heretofore employed may be generally con-
sidered as consisting of two classes viz. (a) those in which fire-proof ingredients
are incorporated with a vehicle such as whitening, caseine-glue, size, or a mix-
ture of the same, or the like; and (b) those in which the fire-proof ingredients are
incorporated with oil, white-lead or the like or with oil paint.
Moreover the fire-proof ingredients used in these compositions may be broadly
classified in two groups viz. those that afford protection against fire by their
mechanical action such as asbestos, powdered glass or lime, and those which
being disassociated by heat emit non-combustible gases, such as the sulphate of
ammonia or of zinc. A large proportion of the fire-proof ingredients of the second
group, as for example sulphate of ammonia, are objectionable because of their
detrimental effect upon the quality and appearance of the pigments in the com-
position; and it is also found that when these ingredients are subjected to heat,
the gases are apt to cause blisters on the painted surface, which burst and thus
leave portions of the wood exposed and unprotected from fire.
Acccording to our present invention we make fire-proof paint by combining
both groups of these fire proof ingredients and we have found as the result of
exhaustive experiments that the following, while possessing more effectual fire-
proof qualities than those hereinabove referred to, are free from the objections
to which the latter are liable and can be advantageously used with pigments of
any kind or quality.
When a fire proof zinc paint is required we take ordinary zinc paint, (which
may be white or coloured with pigments), and mix with about thirty (30) ozs.
of the same the following ingredients viz:

page_text: Or we sometimes substitute hydrate of aluminium for the borax or a portion
of it for instance as follows:—
Silicate powder
Borax
Hydrate of Aluminium
Phosphate of Ammonia
Chloride of Sodium.
”
-
-
two (2) ozs.
one and a half (1) ozs.
one (1) oz.
-
one half 07.
-
one half () oz.
These ingredients are preferably ground in oil before being mixed with the
zinc paint, but they may be incorporated together with the oxide of zinc and the
driers and then ground together.
For the ordinary quality of fire-proof paint we use, instead of the zinc-paint,
lead paint, i.c. paint made with white lead, and mix with about thirty (30) ozs. there-
of the above specified ingredients in the proportions stated. Experience has shown
that fireproof paint made with white lead has considerably more fire resisting
qualities than that made with zinc, the said lead paint is therefore recommended
in preference, where possible. Where zinc paint is required it may be applied as
the last coat over the coats of lead paint. The above proportions are approximate
and may be varied within certain limits.
In some instances we omit the phosphate of ammonia as it is liable to cause
slight lumpiness or flocculence, which may be due to its action on impurities
or adulterations in the paint, and in some instances we replace or partially re-
place the phosphate of ammonia by sal-ammoniac for the reason stated above.
Experience has shown that it is advisable to omit the chloride of sodium for
fine work, as the said chloride may, under certain conditions, cause slight efflores-
cence which would be objectionable in such work.
The above namned substances should be thoroughly ground and after their
incorporation with the paint, the composition should be brought to the requisite
consistence by the addition thereto of oil and turpentine in the usual manner.
For making a fire-proof composition which can be employed for covering
exterior or out-of-door surfaces as well as interior surfaces, we use with the fire-
proof ingredients above stated, whitening or lime solution in place of the lead
or zinc paint, with the addition of about two (2) ozs. of size to act as a binding
material and about two (2) ozs. of linseed or similar oil to enable the coating
to resist the effects of the weather. The fire-proofing ingredients may in this case
be simply incorporated with the whitewash, or, if a fine surface is required, the
composition after incorporation may be passed through a mill.
We may in this latter case use a solution of silicate of soda instead of the sili-
cate powder, since the silicate of soda is considerably more economical, and can
be mixed with the whiteuing or lime, but not with lead or zinc paints.
A suitable form of silicate powder may be obtained by pulverizing commercial
slag wool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A fire-proof zinc paint or composition in which the essential ingredients
consist of zinc, silicate powder, borax and phosphate of ammonia, with or with-
out chloride of sodium, incorporated together substantially in the proportions
stated and in the manner indicated, for the purpose specified.
2. A fire-proof lead paint or composition in which the essential ingredients
consist of white lead, silicate powder, borax, and phosphate of ammonia, with or
without chloride of solium, incorporated together substantially in the propor-
tions stated and in the manner indicated, for the purpose specified.
3. A fire-proof composition in which the essential ingredients consist of
whitoning or lime, silicate of soda or silicate powder, borax, and phosphate of
ammonia, with or without chloride of sodium, and with a binding material such
as size, and linseed or similar oil, such ingredients being incorporated together

page_text: substantially in the proportions stated and in the manner indicated, for the pur-
pose specified.
4. A fire-proof paint or composition as herein set forth, in which the phosphate
of ammonia is omitted, or is replaced or partially replaced by sal ammoniac,
substantially as described.
6. A fire-proof paint or composition as herein set forth in which the borax is
replaced or partially replaced by hydrate of aluminium substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of September 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.