An Improved Process for Impregnating Wearing Apparel and Materials used in the Manufacture thereof with Agents capable of Decomposing Perspiration.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for Impregnating Wearing Apparel and
Materials used in the Manufacture thereof with Agents capable
of Decomposing Perspiration.
I, ARON LENNEBERG, trading as Lenneberg and Meyer of Chemnitz, Saxony,
in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do bereby 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 relates to an improved process for impregnating materials used in
the manufacture of wearing apparel, such as wool, half-wool, cotton, silk and the
like, and also the articles manufactured from such materials, with chemical agents
capable of removing the objectionable consequences of perspiration, especially the
perspiration of the feet, in the case of stockings and the like.
It has been found by experiment that chrome compounds, and more especially
chromic acid, are well suited for, this purpose.
An important desideratum in connection with impregnating processes of this kind
is, that the woven or knitted fabric should, as a result of the impregnation, acquire
the property of resisting any tendency to shrinkage, either after washing, or through
absorbing perspiration.
The main difficulty which has hitherto interfered with the impregnation of
textile materials with chrome compounds was that those materials did not absorb
the chemical substances in solution directly, and not until they were entirely
freed from fatty matter. The removal of the fat can most effectually take place
by the employment of strong spirit of wine. When the material to be impregnated
has thus got rid of its fatty elements, it is steeped in a solution containing, say,
from 3 to 5 per cent. of chromic acid, which solution is then heated to ebullition.
The textile material, after this, is left in the chromic bath, until the same has
completely cooled down.
The effect of this impregnation is not to prevent perspiration, but merely to
decompose chemically the matter secreted by the pores of the skin, and thereby to
obviate unpleasant odour. Wearing apparel may, if necessary, be re-impregnated
by this process as many times as may be desired. The impregnated fabric, after
treatment by this process, retains all its original softness and flexibility, and
remains, as before capable of absorbing the secretion of the skin, so that any
chafing of the skin, and consequent inflammation, is avoided.
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. A process for impregnating materials used in the manufacture of wearing
apparel, for the purpose of decomposing perspiration consisting in first freeing such
material from the fatty substances they contain, and then treating them with a
chrome containing solution, such as a solution of chromic acid, capable of producing
the desired effect upon perspiration.
2. A process for impregnating woollen or worsted material for the purpose of
decomposing perspiration, consisting in first freeing the said material from fatty
matter, and then treating it in chrome in solution, preferably a solution of chromic
acid, capable of producing the desired effect upon the perspiration.
3. A process for impregnating half-wool materials for the purpose of decom-
posing perspiration, mainly consisting in first freeing the materials from fatty

page_text: matter, and then treating them with chrome in solution, preferably a solution of
chromic acid, capable of producing the desired effect upon the perspiration.
4. A process for impregnating cotton materials for the purpose of decomposing
perspiration, mainly consisting in first freeing the said materials from their fatty
matter, and then treating them with chrome in solution, preferably a solution of.
chromic acid, capable of producing the desired effect on the perspiration.
5. A process for impregnating silk materials for the purpose of decomposing
perspiration, mainly consisting in first freeing the said materials from their fatty
elements, and then treating them with chrome in solution, preferably a solution of
chromic acid, capable of producing the desired effect upon the perspiration.
6. Materials suitable for the manufacture of wearing apparel, impregnated with
chrome in solution for the purpose of causing the perspiration to be chemically
decomposed.
7. Woollen or worsted fabrics impregnated with chrome in solution for the
purpose of causing the perspiration to be chemically decomposed.
8. Half-wool fabrics or materials impregnated with chrome in solution for the
purpose of causing perspiration to be chemically decomposed.
9. Cotton materials impregnated with chrome in solution, for the purpose of
causing perspiration to be chemically decomposed.
10. Silk materials impregnated with chrome in solution, for the purpose of
causing perspiration to be chemically decomposed.
Dated this 24th day of May 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.