Improved Processes for Preparing Fur for Felting.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improved Processes for Preparing Fur for Felting.
We, EDMUND TWEEDY, of Danbury, in the County of Fairfield and State of
Connecticut, U.S.A., Manufacturer, HENRY LEFFERT BREVOORT, of New York City,
in the County of New York, and State of New York, U.S.A., Mechanical Engineer,
and ISAIAH LEWIS ROBERTS, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of
New York, U.S.A., Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of our joint invention
for "IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR PREPARING FUR FOR FELTING," and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
Our discovery or invention relates to processes for oxidizing the water repellent
animal material upon the surface of fur fibres to put them in condition to be.
subsequently felted into hats, or other articles.
We have discovered in the old process of treating fur fibres with nitrate of
mercury that, the effect of such treatment is to oxidize the water repellent animal
material which exists on the surface of the fibres, thus rendering such water
repellent material soluble in hot water. The object of rendering such material
soluble is to enable the hot water used in the subsequent operations of felting, to
come directly in contact with the fibres so that it may have a softening action
upon them, and at the same time permit them to come into more intimate contact
with each other.
Our invention consists in oxidizing this water repellent material, by the use of
certain agents, which, unlike nitrate of mercury, do not leave upon the fibres any
poisonous substance likely to injuriously affect the work people who manipulate
the goods in the process of felting, and in the subsequent stages of manufacture.
We effect the oxidation of the water repellent material by the use of peroxide of
hydrogen with water, which we rub upon the fur fibres, or by the use of per-
manganates, such for example as the permanganate of potash or permanganate of
soda alone or both combined dissolved in water, and, as in the case of the use of
peroxide of hydrogen, we rub the liquid upon the fur fibres.

page_text: By using the oxidizing agents above mentioned in the manner hereinafter more
particularly set forth, we produce an oxidizing effect upon the water repellent
animal material upon the surface of the fur fibre, and make it soluble in hot water.
We will now more particularly describe our method of procedure.
We treat the fur with permanganate of potash dissolved in water, which is a
strong oxidizer. But we may use other permanganates besides that of potash, such
as permanganate of soda and the like. A solution of permanganate in water,
preferably saturated, is applied to the fur upon the skins, preferably in the same
way that the solution of mercury has heretofore been usually applied; though
other methods of wetting the fur with the aforesaid solution may be adopted.
After the solution is applied, the skins with the fur upon them may be dried at the
ordinary temperature of the atmosphere, or by artificial heat.
In practice we have obtained the best results by using a solution composed
of one pound of permanganate of potash in four gallons of water at about
80° Fahrenheit, applying it thoroughly to the fur on the skins by rubbing with a
brush, and afterwards drying the fur in an oven raised to a temperature of about
150° Fahrenheit. We have added a small quantity of acid to the solution with
good effect, say about one fluid ounce of sulphuric or muriatic acid to one gallon
of the permanganate solution.
The fur treated by this process will make excellent felt.
The theory of our process is that some substance exists on the surface of the fur
which is a water repellent, and which may be altered chemically, or made soluble so
that the water necessary in the felting operation may be brought in contact with
the fur and the fur fibres into more intimate contact with each other. With our
process this substance upon the surface of the fur is oxidized, and its water repellent
properties are thus destroyed. However, whether this theory is correct or not, the
advantageous results herein referred to are obtainable by the practice of the processes
described herein.
We have also discovered. that a solution in water of peroxide of hydrogen, which
is a strong oxidizer, can be used to treat the fur and adapt it for felting. We
purchase in the market the peroxide of hydrogen, dissolved in water in a sufficiently
diluted form to produce the desired effect. This solution we apply to the fur with
a brush, or in any other desired way, performing the operation preferably in the
same manner in which fur has heretofore been carroted with nitrate of mercury.
We have found good results by using a solution in water of peroxide of hydrogen
of the following strength-three and one-half percentum by weight, or 15 volumes
of the gas to one volume of water. This solution must be thoroughly applied to
the fur while upon the skins. The skins may be dried at the temperature of the
atmosphere, or by artificial heat.
We think the action which takes place in practicing this part of our invention is
as follows-
The water repellent material upon the surface of the fur fibre is oxidized by
treating the fur with peroxide of hydrogen and probably made soluble, and the hot
water used in the felting operation can therefore reach and come in contact with
the fur itself. However, whether this theory be correct or not, the valuable
results herein referred to can be obtained by following the directions just given as
to this part of our invention.
What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-
1. The process of preparing fur so that it may be in a condition suitable for
felting, which consists in treating the fur with permanganate of potash, or other
permanganate in solution, substantially as described.
2. The process of preparing fur for felting, which consists in treating fur upon
the skins by a solution of permanganate of potash or other permanganates in
water, and second, drying the skins by artificial heat, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The treatment of fur prior to felting by means of a solution of permanganate
of potash or other permanganates in water, to which is added a proportion of acid,
substantially in the manner described.
4. The process of preparing fur for felting by treating it with a solution of
peroxide of hydrogen, substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of February 1886.
EDMUND TWEEDY.
HENRY LEFFERT BREVOORT.
ISAIAH LEWIS ROBERTS.
Carpmael & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.