Improvements in the Process of Treating, for the purpose of Scouring and Bleaching, Vegetable Fibres, and Yarn and Woven Fabrics made from such Fibres.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar.. 1900-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1900
NAT, ODWCTRICIATION
Improvements in the Process of Treating, for the purpose of Scouring
and Bleaching, Vegetable Fibres, and Yarn and Woven Fabrics
made from such Fibres.
We, JOHN PULLMAN, of The Trowlock, Teddington, in the County of Middlesex,
and EDWARD ENGLAND PULLMAN, of 13, Claremont Gardens, Surbiton, in the
County of Surrey, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
It is well known that in the preparation of vegetable fibres, and of yarn and
fabrics made from such fibres, for subsequent treatment of different kinds in
paper-making, bleaching, and dyeing, a process of boiling with lime, usually in
the form of milk of lime, is valuable and in some cases indispensable.
chemical actions of the lime in such boiling process are, however, much impeded
by its relative insolubility in water, in consequence of which it penetrates the
fibre or fibrous fabrics with extreme slowness.
The
Our present invention has for its object an improved process, by which this
difficulty and the inconveniences which arise from it are obviated, the fibres
or fibrous material becoming thoroughly impregnated with the active oxide.
For this purpose we, first, treat the vegetable fibres or fibrous materials with
a solution of a calcium salt, preferably calcium chloride, and, secondly, after
draining or squeezing the fibrous material to remove excess of this solution, we
treat it with a solution of caustic soda, (or other equivalent soluble alkali), which
decomposes the calcium salt, and deposits the resulting calcium oxide, or lime
(hydrate), in and upon the fibres, thus ensuring its presence in uniform and
intimate distribution through and in the mass of the fibrous substance.
We may then submit the fibres, yarn, or fabric, so treated, to the process of
boiling in the usual way and under the usual conditions.
It is evident that the process described may be modified. For instance, the
vegetable fibres or fibrous materials may be first treated with the solution of
caustic soda (or other equivalent alkali), and secondly with a solution of calcium
salt.
The process and ingredients may be varied more or less. For instance, instead
of a soluble salt of calcium, one of magnesium or other metal of the alkaline
earths such as barium, may be used.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise strength and proportions of the
solution and ingredients used, which may be varied more or less according to the
different circumstances and purposes for which they are to be used.
1900
EDWARDS & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in the Process of Treating, for the purpose of Scouring
and Bleaching, Vegetable Fibres, and Yarn and Woven Fabrics
made from such Fibres.
We, JOHN PULLMAN, of The Trowlock, Teddington, in the County of Middlesex,
and EDWARD ENGLAND PULLMAN, of 13, Claremont Gardens, Surbiton, in the
County of Surrey, Manufacturers, 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, that is to say:-
It is well known that in the preparation of vegetable fibres, and of yarn and
fabrics made from such fibres, such as cotton and linen, for subsequent treatment
of different kinds in paper-making, bleaching, and dyeing, a process of boiling
with lime, usually in the form of milk of lime, is valuable and in some cases
indispensable. The chemical actions of the lime in such boiling processes are,
however, much impeded by its comparative insolubility in water, in consequence
of which it penetrates the fibre or fibrous fabrics with extreme slowness.
Our present invention has for its object an improved process, by which this
difficulty and the inconveniences which arise from it are obviated, the fibres or
fibrous material becoming thoroughly impregnated with the active oxide.
For this purpose we, first, treat the vegetable fibres or fibrous materials with
a solution of a soluble calcium salt, preferably calcium chloride, (CaCl2), and,
secondly, after draining or squeezing the fibrous material, to remove excess of
this solution, we treat it with a solution of caustic soda (NaOH) (or other
equivalent soluble alkali, for instance, caustic potash (KHO) which decomposes
the calcium salt and deposits the resulting calcium oxide, or lime (hydrate)
(Ca. 20H) in and upon the fibres, ensuring in this way its presence in uniform
and intimate distribution through, and in the mass of, the fibrous substance.
The fibre, yarn, or fabric, so treated, may then be submitted to the process of
boiling in the usual way and under the usual conditions.
The proportions, of the materials used in the solution, and the time occupied
in the different stages of the treatment described, may be varied to any required
extent, according to the character of the fibres or fibrous materials and the
purposes for which they are to be used. We have found the following, which
we give by way of example, to afford good results.
Supposing that linen cloth is the material to be treated, we pass it through
a solution in water, at about 195° Fahrenheit, of 2% of calcium chloride (Ca.Cl)
weighed dry.
The cloth having been passed through this solution, we then remove it and
squeeze it by passing it between rollers, or by other means, until it retains a
weight of the solution equal to its own weight but not more than twice its weight.
We then pass the cloth through a solution of water containing about 1% of
caustic soda (NaOH) in which it remains for only a short time (say about half
an hour) and is then removed. Cloth of vegetable fibre so prepared may then
be boiled in the usual way and under the usual conditions, either, in what is
known as an ordinary lime boil, or in a caustic soda boil, after which it may be
further treated and finished in the usual well known ways.
~:
The treatment of the linen cloth in the way described is superior to the
ordinary method of treatment, in the uniformity and general character of the
result.
•
Linen varns may be advantageously treated by this improved process of
liming, whereas the ordinary process of boiling with milk of lime is in most

page_text: cases unsuitable. By the present invention, the yarns are dipped in the hot solution
of calcium chloride (2% Ca.CL.) and when thoroughly impregnated the excess
of the solution is removed by draining followed by the action of squeezing rolls
or a centrifugal machine.
The yarns are then laid in a boiling pot or kier, and boiled under the ordinary
conditions with a lye of caustic soda. The quantity of caustic soda (NaOH)
employed is from 10 to 20 per cent. in excess of the amount required to decompose
the calcium chloride retained by the varn, as described above.
The process described may be modified more or less. For instance, certain
vegetable fibres or fibrous materials may be treated, first with the solution of
caustic soda (or other equivalent alkali) and, secondly, with the solution of calcium.
salt, the lime produced by decomposition, in and upon the fibres, being the same
in both cases.
Or, in some cases. instead of a soluble salt of calcium, one of magnesium or
other metal of the alkaline earths such as barium, may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The treatment of vegetable fibres, and yarn and woven fabrics made from
such fibres, first with a solution in water of a soluble salt of calcium, and secondly
with a solution of caustic soda, or caustic potash, substantially as described.
2.In the process described in Claim 1, the use, first, of a solution of caustic
soda, or caustic potash. and secondly of a solution of a soluble salt of calcium,
substantially as described.
3-In the processes described in Claims 1 and 2, the use, instead of a soluble
salt of calcium, of a suitable soluble salt of magnesium, or other metal of the
alkaline earths, such as barium, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of March 1900.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
65 and 66. Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.