IMPROVED METHOD OF PRODUCING MOULDED ARTICLES FROM SUBSTANCES CONTAINING LIGNEOUS FIBRES follows:-
Year: 1884

page_text: I, FERDINAND THIEMER, of Bischofswerda, kingdom of Saxony, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for an "IMPROVED METHOD OF PRODUCING
MOULDED ARTICLES FROM SUBSTANCES CONTAINING LIGNEOUS FIBRES
follows:-
-
"
to be as
My invention consists in a new method of producing solid articles from saw-dust,
wood shavings, wood pulp, dry leaves, straw, hay and other ligueous substances, by
treating them with chloride of zinc and basic chloride of magnesium, by pressing
the mass into moulds and drying it.
For this purpose the raw material is moistened with a solution of chloride of zinc,
and after having become dry, it is impregnated with a solution of basic chloride of
magnesium. The mass is then filled into moulds and exposed to the action of a
press. While being maintained under pressure it consolidates to compact pieces,
which after removal from the moulds, are dried, thereupon immersed for some time
in a liquor which again consists in a solution of chloride of zinc, and finally dried
once more.
A material is thus obtained which may be worked
possesses other valuable properties that render it
ornaments, cabinet-work and many other purposes.
may be mixed with the mass.
like hard wood, and which
adapted for architectural
If desired, various colours

page_text: I, FERDINAND THIEMER, of Bischofswerda, kingdom of Saxony, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for an "IMPROVED METHOD OF PRODUCING
MOULDED ARTICLES FROM SUBSTANCES CONTAINING LIGNEOUS FIBRES," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :--
My invention consists in a new method of producing solid articles from saw-dust,
wood shavings, wood pulp, dry leaves, straw, hay and other ligneous substances, by
treating them with chloride of zinc and basic chloride of magnesium, by pressing
the mass into moulds and drying it.
For this purpose the material to be subjected to the treatment is moistened with
a solution of chloride of zinc having, by preference, a specific gravity of 1.028, and
thereupon it is dried. Subsequently it is uniformly impregnated with a solution of
basic chloride of magnesium, preferably of a specific gravity of from 1.725 to 1.793;
so much of this solution being employed as that the mass will only become humid,
and that no liquor can be squeezed out therefrom by a gentle pressure, for instance
by hand. The mass is then filled into moulds and exposed to the action of a
hydraulic or other powerful press. While being maintained under pressure it con-
solidates with slight spontaneous elevation of temperature to compact pieces, which
after removal from the moulds, are placed for several days in a heated and venti-
lated chamber or other suitable place to be dried. The time in which the mass
solidifies, depends to a certain degree upon the strength of the solution of chloride
of zinc employed; but ordinarily from 10 to 12 hours are required. After having
become completely dry, the product is immersed for some time, and preferably for
a like number of hours, in a strong solution of chloride of zinc which may have
a specific gravity of 1.205, and is finally dried again.
The aforesaid basic solution of chloride of magnesium may be prepared from a
neutral solution of chloride of magnesium of a specific gravity of 1.185, by adding
thereto so much caustic magnesia as that the liquor, which ordinarily possesses a
milky appearance, will have attained a specific gravity of 1.771.
The moulds to be used, which may be plain or ornamented, are with advantage
so constructed as that they may be clamped together by screws or otherwise, after
the pressure has been applied to them, in order that they may be removed from the
press while the mass is maintained under pressure, whereas the press remains at
disposal for another series of moulds. Besides they should be provided with slits
or holes through which any excess of liquor squeezed out by the pressing operation
may flow off.
In order to allow the produced articles to be easily detached it is
advisable to slightly grease the moulds.
By the described process a material is obtained which may be sawed, planed and
otherwise worked like hard wood, and which assumes a good polish. Besides it is
not apt to be destroyed by fire, it is impervious to water, indestructible by weak
acids and alkaline solutions, and resistant to atmospheric influences. It is therefore
particularly adapted for architectural ornaments and cabinet-work, and useful for

page_text: many other purposes. If desired, suitable colours may be mixed with the raw
material previous to, or during its treatment with the chemicals, and variegated
surfaces may be obtained by a mixture of different materials,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The process of producing moulded articles from saw-dust, wood shavings, wood
pulp, dry leaves, straw, bay and other ligneous materials by treatment with chloride
of zinc and basic chloride of magnesium, compression into moulds and drying,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. As an article of manufacture the material obtained from saw-dust, wood
shavings, wood pulp, dry leaves, straw, hay and other ligneous substances by treat-
ment with chloride of zinc and basic chloride of magnesium, compression into
moulds and drying, substantially as and for the purpose specified.