AN IMPROVED PLASTIC COMPOUND FOR THE PROTECTION OF METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC SURFACES FROM THE ACTION OF WATER, AIR, AND OTHER CAUSES OF DETERIORATION
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Louis Roux, of No. 12, Abingdon Street,
Westminster, and 24, Rue de Dunkerque, Paris, in the Empire of
France, Lieutenant in the Imperial Navy, and Officer of the Legion of
Honour, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PLASTIC COMPOUND FOR THE
PROTECTION OF METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC SURFACES FROM THE ACTION OF
WATER, AIR, AND OTHER CAUSES OF DETERIORATION."
Sealed the 1st August 1864, and dated the 23rd March 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Louis Roux
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 23rd March 1864.
I, FRANÇOIS LOUIS Roux, of No. 12, Abingdon Street, Westminster, and
24, Rue de Dunkerque, Paris, in the Empire of France, Lieutenant in the
Imperial Navy, and Officer of the Legion of Honour, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PLASTIC COMPOUND FOR THE
PROTECTION OF METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC SURFACES FROM THE ACTION OF WATER,
AIR, AND OTHER CAUSES OF DETERIORATION," to be as follows:―
My Invention relates to an improved plastic compound intended to protect

page_text: metallic and non-metallic surfaces from the action of water, air, and other
causes of deterioration to which they may be exposed.
This compound is prepared as follows:-To a solution of ten parts of
caoutchouc in forty-five parts of essence of turpentine, I add by small portions
at a time an impalpable powder composed of sulphate of barytes, sixty parts;
sublimed sulphur, twenty-three parts; white lead. (ceruse) twelve parts.
These ingredients being thoroughly incorporated with the caoutchouc solution,
the product is preserved for use in well closed jars or other capacities; it
does not become completely homogeneous till from three to four days after
its preparation. The plastic compound thus formed may in many cases be
applied directly to the surfaces which it, is intended to protect, but as a
general rule the latter should be previously covered with a ground coating of
minium paint or coal tar, or again (for iron) with metallic zinc deposited by
one of the known processes. Over this ground I apply a light coating of
mordant composed of coal tar, ninety parts; pulverised resin, seven parts;
litharge, three parts; and when dry in about twenty-four hours after, I apply
by means of a flexible spatula, the plastic compound first above described. A
single coating of this compound is generally sufficient for the preservation of
surfaces which are not exposed to the action of sea water, but for the hulls
and armor plates of ships a second layer is always required. To prevent the
adherence of marine plants, shells, and other organic incrustations, the outer
coating may be sprinkled over with copper filings either alone or combined
with powdered antimony or other metals or alloys capable of resisting to a
certain extent the action of the sea water. The adhesion of these metallic
filings to the plastic coating is obtained by simply passing the hand over the
latter within an hour after its application, and if need be, beating it slightly
with a mallet when thoroughly dried. If so desired a copper sheathing may
be applied to iron ships when coated with the plastic compound, the inter-
position of which affords ample protection from the contact of the two metals,.
and consequently from voltaic action. Among other applications the plastic
matter may be used for the protection of telegraphic cables and wires,, iron
bridges, and similar structures, wood and stone work, and in general all
surfaces exposed to the action of water, air, solar rays, gaseous emanations, or
other injurious influences.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said François Louis Roux in the Great Seal Patent Office on..
the 2nd September 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANÇOIS
LOUIS Roux, of No. 12, Abindgon Street, Westminster, and 24, Rue de
Dunkerque, Paris, in the Empire of France, Lieutenant in the Imperial
Navy, and Officer of the Legion of Honour, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,. by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said François Louis Roux, Her special licence that I, the,. said
François Louis Roux, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said François Louis Roux, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter 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 "AN IMPROVED PLASTIC COMPOUND FOR THE PROTECTION OF
METALLIC AND NON-METALLIC SURFACES FROM THE ACTION OF WATER, AIR, AND
OTHER CAUSES OF DETERIORATION," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said François Louis Roux, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said François Louis. Roux, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same.
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by.
the following statement, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to an improved plastic compound intended to protect
metallic and non-metallic surfaces from the action of water, air, and other
causes of deterioration to which they may be exposed.
This compound is prepared as follows:-To a solution of ten parts of
caoutchouc in forty-five parts of essence of turpentine, I add by small portions
at a time an impalpable powder composed of sulphate of barytes, sixty parts;
sublimed sulphur, twenty-three parts; white lead (ceruse) twelve parts..

page_text: These ingredients being thoroughly incorporated with the caoutchouc solution,
the product is preserved for use in well closed jars or other capacities; it
does not become completely homogeneous till from three to four days after its
preparation. The plastic compound, thus formed, may in many cases be
applied directly to the surfaces which it is intended to protect, but as a
general rule the latter should be previously covered with a ground coating of
minium paint, or coal tar, or again (for iron), with metallic zinc deposited
by one of the known processes. Over this ground I apply a light coating
of mordant, composed of coal tar, ninety parts; pulverised resin, seven parts;
litharge, three parts; and when dry in about twenty-four hours after, I apply,
by means of a flexible spatula, the plastic compound first above described.
A single coating of this compound is generally sufficient for the preservation
of surfaces which are not exposed to the action of sea water, but for the hulls
and armour plates of ships a second layer is always required. To prevent
the adherence of marine plants, shells, and other organic incrustations the
outer coating may be sprinkled over with copper filings, either alone or
combined with powdered antimony or other metals or alloys capable of
resisting to a certain extent the action of the sea water. The adhesion of
these metallic filings to the plastic coating is obtained by simply passing the
hand over the latter within an hour after its application, and if need be,
beating it slightly with a mallet when thoroughly dried. In certain cases it
may be found advantageous to incorporate the metallic filings with the plastic
matter before its application to the surfaces to be protected. Or again, in
the preparation of this matter the proportions of barytes, sulphur, and white
lead above laid down may be lessened, and the difference be made up by
equivalents of other substances capable of preventing the incrustation of the
submerged surfaces. The hulls of wooden ships are effectually preserved
from vegetations, insects, etc., etc., by one or two layers of the plastic matter,
combined as above with metallic or other poisonous ingredients. If so desired
a copper sheating may be applied to iron ships when coated with the plastic
compound, the interposition of which affords ample protection from the
contact of the two metals, and consequently from voltaic action. Among'
other applications the plastic matter may be used for the protection of
telegraphic cables and wires, iron bridges, and similar structures, wood and
stonework, and in general, all surfaces exposed to the action of water, air,
solar rays, gaseous emanations or other injurious influences.
It may here be noted that when the nature of the intended application
renders desirable the suppression of the white lead, (as for instance when
applied as a protective coating to alimentary products), this ingredient may

page_text: be replaced by an equal quantity of sulphate of barytes, in addition to that
above noted.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner of carrying it into effect, I declare that what I claim and
desire to secure by the above in part recited Letters Patent is, the prepara-
tion substantially as herein set forth of a plastic compound applicable to the
protection of metallic and non-metallic surfaces from the action of water, air,
and other causes of deterioration to which they may be exposed.
In witness whereof, I, the said François Louis Roux, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.