Silk, or the like.
Year: 1886

page_text: Silk, or the like.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention is chiefly designed for the treatment of silk cocoons, in order to
ensure the disintegration of the gummy or waxy cementing material which connects
the fibres of the cocoons, my said invention however is also applicable for the
treatment of raw silk, silk waste and the like.
For the preparation or treatment of cocoons or the like containing said gum or
wax, two processes have heretofore been in use. One of these, known as the
macerating process, consists essentially in subjecting the silk cocoons to a putri-
factive fermentation which sufficiently decomposes the gum or wax to permit the
separation of the fibres, and also permits the retention of a coating of the gum or
wax on the fibres, to in some measure strengthen the same during subsequent
mechanical treatment. This macerating process requires from ten days to three
weeks, and is liable to discolor the silk so that its subsequent bleaching is difficult
and often impossible; and the process itself is so productive of foul odours as to
render its practice a nuisance to the neighborhood in which it is carried on.
The other process heretofore generally employed consists essentially in boiling
the silk material in a solution of soap, either with or without free alkali. This
removes substantially the whole of the gum or wax from the fibre, thereby
leaving the fibre comparatively weak against the wear and tear of the subsequent
mechanical operations, and thus leading to an excessive waste in such mechanical
operations.
The object of my invention is to combine the advantages of these two processes
without the drawbacks and defects of either of them.
My said invention, without any of the objectionable results incident to the use
of the processes heretofore in use as aforesaid, brings the guminy or waxy cementing
material to a condition which allows the ready and complete separation of the
"
71

page_text: fibres, and in which such material is practicably incapable of re-cementing the
fibres when the same are brought in contact and dried. By this means a sub-
stantial portion of the gum or wax is caused to remain upon or coat the fibres
separately or individually, and this coating materially increases the strength of the
fibre under the strain of subsequent mechanical operations of combing, carding,
spinning etc thereby diminishing the waste as compared with that resulting
when the gum or wax is substantially or wholly removed from the fibres prior to
such mechanical operations. Further the finished silk resulting from the practice
of my invention is devoid of the discoloration incident to the macerating process;
and my process requires but about twenty four hours more or less, as compared
with the period of from ten days to three weeks ordinarily required for the
macerating process and entirely avoids the bad odours and nuisances incident to
macerating process herein before referred to.
In the practice of my said invention, I provide a solution of either sulphuric
acid or hydro-chloric acid (these acids being equivalents for the purposes of my
invention). This solution is preferably in the proportion of three fourths of an
ounce more or less of hydro-chloric acid to a gallon of water.
When the sulphuric
acid is used, the proportions may be about the same, but the best results are
obtained by the use of the hydro-chloric acid It is to be observed that whichever
of the two acids be used the same is used alone.-The two acids are not to be
mixed in the same solution. These proportions may be departed from to some
extent, the stronger the solution the greater being the care required to prevent an
injurious action upon the silk.
To produce the best and most rapid results the solution should be heated to one
hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, and in general should not exceed one
hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature higher than that last
mentioned is liable to remove the gum or wax nearly or wholly from the silk
material, and thus weaken the same for subsequent mechanical treatment. The
temperature may, if desired, be less than above indicated to a very considerable
extent, but in general the time required for the requisite treatment of the silk
, material, will be prolonged as the temperature is less than above described.
The cocoons, raw silk or waste silk is submerged in this solution, and in due
course the gum or wax is brought to the conlition requisite to the separation of
the fibres. Ordinarily this requires from six to ten hours; the lower the tem-
perature, the less rapid the action. I have found it convenient and advantageous
to place the silk material in the solution with the latter at ordinary temperatures
over night, and then to heat the solution to the suitable temperature to complete
the treatment. This somewhat shortens the time of the heating treatment, and
gives very excellent results. When the silk material has reached the condition,
very apparent on examination, when the fibres readily separate from each other,
the said material is removed from the acid solution and washed in water at
ordinary or suitable temperature to remove the acid, after which it may receive a
slight bath in a solution of soap to remove any traces of free acid that may remain.
The silk material is then dried in the usual or any suitable manner, and is then
ready for mechanical treatment, combing, carding, spinning, and the like.
The advantages of my invention arise from the use of hydro-chloric acid, or as
its equivalent for my purpose, of sulphuric acid in the process or processes herein
disclosed. I therefore do not claim broadly the treatment of cocoons, raw silk or
silk waste with acids to act upon the gum or waste of such material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is,
First. The hereindescribed process of treating cocoons, raw silk, silk waste or the
like, to separate the fibres without destroying the natural coating of guin or wax
on said fibres, by treating the silk material with hydrochloric acid or its herein
specified equivalent, substantially as herein set forth.

page_text: Second. The process of treating cocoons, raw silk, silk waste, or the like, which
consists in subjecting the material to the action of hydrochloric acid, or its herein
specified equivalent, at a temperature of one hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit
or thereabouts, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein set forth.
Third. The process of treating cocoons, raw silk, silk waste, or the like, by
subjecting the same to the action of a solution of hydrochloric acid or its herein
specified equivalent in the proportions of about three fourths of an ounce to an
ounce more or less of the acid to a gallon of water more or less, substantially as,
and for the purpose, herein set forth.
Fourth. The process of treating cocoons, silk waste, waste silk or the like, by
subjecting the same to the action of a solution of say from three fourths of an
ounce to an ounce or more or less of hydrochloric acid, or its herein specified
equivalent, to a gallon of water and at a temperature of, or approximating, one
hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein
set forth.
Fifth. The process of treating cocoons, raw silk, waste silk, or the like, by
subjecting the same to the action of hydrochloric acid, or its herein specified
equivalent, removing the same from the acid, then washing with water, and then
drying the material, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein set forth.
This Oth JW 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.