IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SIZE
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Blackburn, of Mellor, near Blackburn,
in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, for the In-
Sealed the 17th April 1874, and dated the 12th February 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Blackburn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th February 1874.
I, THOMAS BLACKBURN, of Mellor, near Blackburn, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SIZE," to
be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to produce a size for sizing cotton and
other yarns and fabrics or fibrous substances that will render the fabrics
impervious to mildew, that will add to their weight, and improve their
finish, and that will facilitate the process of bleaching. This improved
size absorbs and destroys noxious gases, and consequently renders the
weaving shed healthy.

page_text: In performing my Invention I combine chloride of zinc, or any other
suitable salt of zinc, or salts of alumina or magnesia, caustic potash,
sulphite of soda, or potash and water in the proportion of one part
of salt of zinc or its equivalent in alumina or magnesia, four parts
of caustic potash, five parts of a solution of sulphite of soda or potash,
and twelve parts of water; but these proportions may be considerably
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Blackburn in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BLACKBURN, of Mellor, near Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturing Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Blackburn, Her special
licence that I, the said Thomas Blackburn, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Blackburn,
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
“IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SIZE," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Blackburn, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of

page_text: :
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 calender months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Blackburn, 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) :-
The object of my Invention is to produce a size for sizing cotton and
other yarns and fabrics or fibrous substances that will render the fabrics
impervious to mildew, that will add to their weight, and improve their
finish, and that will facilitate the process of bleaching; this improved
size also absorbs and destroys noxious gases, and consequently renders
the weaving shed or other building in which the opertion takes place
healthy.
In performing my Invention I combine solutions of chloride of zinc,
or any other suitable salt of zinc, or salts of alumina or magnesia,
caustic potash, sulphite of soda or potash and water, in the proportion
of one part of salt of zinc or its equivalent, in alumina or magnesia, four
parts of caustic potash, five parts of a solution of sulphite of soda or
potash, and twelve parts of water; but these proportions may be con-
siderably varied.
In some cases I combine farinaceous matter, or china clay, or soap-
stone, or gum, or glue, or other adhesive substances with the above
ingredients.
The strength of the various solutions may be varied, but the following
have been found in practice to give good results, namely, solution of
salt of zinc at 98 degrees of Twaddle's hydrometer, solution of causte
potash at 78 degrees, and the solution of sulphite of soda is prepared by
mixing one pound and a half of sulphite of soda with one gallon of
water.
In some cases the chlorine or other salt of zinc, or alumina, or
magnesia may be dispensed with, and silicate of soda or silicate of
potash substituted; the caustic potash may also be dispensed with,
and carbonate of potash in equivalent proportions used in its stead.
When silicate of soda is used I vary the quantity according to the
weight required to be added to the yarn or fabric when sized.

page_text: For light goods I mix four parts of carbonate or caustic potash with
eight parts of silicate of soda or silicate of potash and two or three
parts of sulphite of soda or other salt containing sulphurous acid;
the adhesive substance which I prefer to use with the above ingredients
is the extract of linseed by water in the proportion of one or two parts,
the water being saturated with saltpetre or borax or a mixture of
both; the above solutions must be well mixed together either when
cold or hot.
For heavy goods I use instead of about eight parts of the silicate of
soda or potash about sixteen parts, the other ingredients may remain
the same; but I prefer to increase the proportion of the carbonate of
potash or caustic potash from four to about six parts.
Having thus stated the nature and particulars of my Invention I
wish to remark that I do not intend to limit myself to the ingredients
and proportions given, as they may be varied according to the nature
and quality of the fibrous materials to be sized, and to the finish that
is required to be given; and in some cases other ingredients possessing
similar properties may be substituted for those above mentioned.
I claim the improved combinations of the ingredients herein-before
mentioned for manufacturing size as described.
And I also claim the use of sulphite of soda or other salt containing
sulphurous acid combined with the ingredients hercin-before mentioned,
or others, in the manufacture of size.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Blackburn, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-four.