Improvements in the Treatment of Paper or other Fabrics to Render them suitable for Photographic Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Paper or other Fabrics to
Render them suitable for Photographic Purposes.
I, JAMES WILLIAMS, of Willesden Paper Works, Willesden Junction, in the
County of Middlesex, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Paper is at the present time treated by dipping in an ammoniacal solution of
oxide of copper (cuprammonium hydro-oxide) in the manufacture of the well known
Willesden waterproof paper. Such paper has however comparatively rough surfaces
unless glazed with roller pressure.
Paper and textile fabrics have also been glazed by applying a coating of cellulose
dissolved in cuprammonium hydro-oxide but owing to the manner in which this
was done the resulting surface was not suitable for photographic purposes.
I have discovered that instead of dissolving cellulose in cuprammonium, it is
essential to success, to first prepare a bath of strong cuprammonium-hydro-oxide
solution, which must be of the utmost possible purity. Upon this bath I flout the
surface of the paper or other fabric to be treated, taking care that only one side
comes in contact with the solution by which means I convert the surface of the
paper or other fabric, into a structureless film of cellulose, such film at this stage
existing in combination with the oxide of copper, ammonia, and water, employed.
I then conduct the sheet of paper or other fabric, with as little exposure as possible
to the air consistent with the setting of the film, to one or more hot rollers, taking
care to lead it over the first, so that the untouched surface is in contact with it,
by which means I expel the ammonia and water from the deposited film.
The material thus treated has a green tint, due to the copper hydrate contained
in the deposited film. In order to remove this colour and render it suitable for
photographic purposes, I pass it through a bath of weak acid, such as sulphuric
I then wash
acid which dissolves out the copper without affecting the glazed surface.
and dry the paper or other fabric.
By this invention a permanent glaze capable of withstanding the action of water,
steam, weak acids, alkalis and ordinary solvents, and with a surface closely resembling
the albumenized paper used in photography is obtained.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Paper or other Fabrics to
Render them suitable for Photographic Purposes.
1, JAMES WILLIAMS, of Willesden Paper Works, Willesden Junction, in the
County of Middlesex, Chemist, 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 :--
Paper is at the present time treated by dipping in an ammoniacal solution of oxide
of copper (cuprammonium hydro-oxide) in the manufacture of the well known
Willesden waterproof paper. Such paper has however comparatively rough surfaces
unless glazed with roller pressure.
Paper and textile fabrics have also been glazed by applying a coating of cellulose
dissolved in cuprammonium hydro-oxide but owing to the manner in which this was
done the resulting surface was not suitable for photographic purposes.
I have discovered that instead of dissolving cellulose in cuprammonium, it is

page_text: essential to success, to first prepare a bath of strong cuprammonium hydro-oxide
solution, which must be of the utmost possible purity and 1 find it convenient to use
from 15 to 25 per cent. by weight of metallic copper, according to the degree of
brilliancy required. Upon this bath I float the surface of the paper or other fabric to
be treated, taking care that only one side comes in contact with the solution by which
means convert the surface of the paper or other fabric, into a structureless film of
cellulose, such film at this stage existing in combination with the oxide of copper,
ammonia, and water employed. I then conduct the sheet of paper or other fabric,
with as little exposure as possible to the air consistent with the setting of the film, to
one or more hot rollers, taking care to lead it over the first, so that the untouched
surface is in contact with it, by which means I expel the ammonia and water from the
deposited film.
The material thus treated has a green tint, due to the copper hydrate contained
in the deposited film. In order to remove this and render it suitable for photographic
purposes, I pass it through consecutive baths of weak acid, such as sulphuric acid,
which dissolves out the copper without affecting the glazed surface. I then wash and
dry the paper or other fabric.
By this invention a permanent glaze capable of withstanding the action of water,
steam, weak acids, alkalies and ordinary solvents, and with a surface closely
resembling the albumenized paper used in photography is obtained.
In place of cuprammonium hydro-oxide other suitable solvents may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The process of forming a practically pure structureless film of cellulose upon
the surface of paper or other fabric by exposing it to the action of a solvent and
then removing or neutralizing such solvent substantially as described.
2. The process of forming a practically pure structureless film of cellulose upon
paper or other fabric by floating the paper or other fabric upon the surface of a
solvent and then extracting or neutralizing such solvent substantially as described.
3. The process of forming a practically pure structureless film of cellulose upon
the surface of paper or other fabric by exposing it to the action of cuprammonium
hydro-oxide and afterwards to acid substantially as described.
4. The process of forming a practically pure structureless film of cellulose upon
the surface of paper or other fabric by floating the paper or other fabric upon the
surface of cuprainmonium hydro-oxide and afterwards exposing it to the action of
acid substantially as described.
5. The treatment of paper or other fabrics to render them suitable for photographic
purposes substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1890.