Application of the Residues of Soda Manufacture for Building Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan,, 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Application of the Residues of Soda Manufacture for Building
Purposes.
I, WILHELM SCHLEUNING of Heideberg, Baden, Germany, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to utilise the residues of soda manufacture as
building materials., For this purpose the residues, as soon as they are removed from
the furnace, are spread in a loose layer about 20 inches high, on suitable ground, and
are left for some weeks to oxidize under the action of the atmosphere.
After they have become entirely converted into white soda-gypsum, they are suited
for the following applications. The large accumulated deposits of such residues that
exist in the neighbourhood of alkali works aro of course also easily rendered applicable for
the same purpose, being if necessary spread out and left sufficiently exposed to convert
them into the required condition.
a. The said soda-gypsum is mixed with a certain percentage, varying according to
the purpose to which it is to be employed, of burnt gypsum and burnt lime, together
with a very small quantity of water, and is placed in a nearly dry condition into iron
moulds where it is subject to a pressure of from 50 to 200 atmospheres, so as to be
converted into building blocks, which can be at once utilized.
The percentage of admixture of the said materials, and their quality, as also the pressure
to which the mass is subjected, depend upon the purposes to which the blocks are to
be applied. For all work that is not exposed to the weather, ordinary gypsum is
applicable and a pressure of 50 atmospheres is sufficient.
For the facings of structures and foundations, the description of lime known as
"Lüneburg" lime, or better still, the description of gypsum known as "Annalith"
found in the Harz mountains, should be used, under increased pressure.
A still higher degree of hardness is attained if the mass is moistened with a weak
solution of zinc-, copper- or iron-sulphate; in the latter case the block receives a fine
permanent yellow brown colour; such blocks can be used under water.
b. The said residues are mixed with about 15 per cent. of gypsum and 5 per cent.
burnt lime, or milk of lime, and the mixture is filled in a wet condition into coffer
dams or between boards and stamped down, so as to form walls in a similar manner to
concrete walls, being thus more particularly applicable as partition walls or for filling
in the spaces of framed walls.
This description of wall protects all wood work with which it is in contact from
fungus or dry rot, but it is only applicable for interior work.
c. By grinding down the residues and stirring them up in a thin liquid condition
with about 15 per cent. gypsum and per cent. lime, a mortar is obtained which unites
intimately with the above described blocks, and which serves both for binding material
and for facing the walls; if it is to be employed for open air facades it should have
an addition of dilute vitriol solution. Also in this case "Annalith" is to be preferred
to ordinary gypsum.
d. Lastly, the soda gypsum without any addition, or with a small addition of
gypsum and water, may be used as filling material between beams and joists or in the
groins of arches, and in this application it preserves the wood effectually against
dry rot.
All the above described materials can be coloured both in the mass and by subse-
quent application of lime, water, or oil colours.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Application of the Residues of Soda Manufacture for Building
Purposes.
I, WILHELM SOHLEUNING, of Heideberg, Baden, Germany, 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 :-
My invention has for its object to utilise the residues of soda manufacture as
building materials. For this purpose the residues, as soon as they are removed from
the furnace, are spread in a loose layer about 20 inches high, on suitable ground, and
are left for some weeks to oxidize under the action of the atmosphere.
After they have become entirely converted into white soda-gypsum, they are suited
for the following applications. The large accumulated deposits of such residues that
exist in the neighbourhood of alkali works are of course also easily rendered applicable
for the same purpose, being if necessary spread out and left sufficiently exposed to
convert them into the required condition.
a. The said soda-gypsum is mixed with a certain percentage, varying according to
the purpose to which it is to be employed, of burnt gypsum and burnt lime, together
with a very small quantity of water, and is placed in a nearly dry condition into iron
moulds where it is subject to a pressure of from 50 to 200 atmospheres, so as to be
converted into building blocks, which can be at once utilized.
The percentage of admixture of the said materials, and their quality, as also the
pressure to which the mass is subjected, depend upon the purposes to which the blocks
are to be applied. For all work that is not exposed to the weather, ordinary gypsum
is applicable and a pressure of 50 atmospheres is sufficient.
For the facings of structures and foundations, the description of lime known as
"Lüneburg" lime, or better still, the description of gypsum known as "Annalith "
found in the Harz mountains, should be used, under increased pressure.
A still higher degree of hardness is attained if the mass is moistened with a weak
solution of zinc-, copper- or iron-sulphate; in the latter case the block receives a fine
permanent yellow brown colour; such blocks can be used under water.
b. The said residues are mixed with about 15 per cent. of gypsum and 5 per cent.
burnt lime, or inilk of lime and the mixture is filled in a wet condition into coffer
dams or between boards and stamped down, so as to form walls in a similar manner
to concrete walls, being thus more particularly applicable as partition walls or for
filling in the spaces of framed walls.
This description of wall protects all wood work with which it is in contact from
fungus or dry rot, but it is only applicable for interior work.
c. By grinding down the residues and stirring them up in a thin liquid condition
with about 15 per cent. gypsum and 5 per cent. lime, a mortar is obtained which
unites intimately with the above described blocks, and which serves both for binding
material and for facing the walls; if it is to be employed for open air facades it should
have an addition of dilute vitriol solution. Also in this case "Annalith is to be
preferred to ordinary gypsum.
d. Lastly, the soda gypsum without any addition, or with a small addition of
gypsum and water, may be used as filling material between beams and joists or in the
groins of arches, and in this application it preserves the wood effectually against
dry rot.
All the above described materials can be coloured both in the mass and by
subsequent application of lime, water, or its colours.
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 :-
The herein described process for adapting for building purposes the residue from

page_text: soda manufacture, by exposing the same to oxidation so as to convert it into soda-
gypsum, mixing therewith variable proportions of burnt gypsum, and lime with
sufficient water to form a mortar or plaster, or with little water to form a paste and
subjecting this paste to pressure in suitable moulds to form building blocks,
5 substantially as described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.