AN IMPROVED PREPARATION OF CARBON, ADAPTED ESPECIALLY FOR ELECTRICAL AND FILTERING PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: We SAMUEL JOSEPH COXETER and HEINRICH NEHMER, of 23 Grafton Street
East in the County of Middlesex, Electricians, do hereby declare the nature of
our invention for AN IMPROVED PREPARATION OF CARBON, ADAPTED ESPECIALLY
FOR ELECTRICAL AND FILTERING PURPOSES to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists of a method of obtaining solidified masses of carbon and
silica, or of carbon, peroxide of manganese, and silica, by the following process:—
We mix carbon alone, or carbon and peroxide of manganese or other similar
substance or substances, that give off oxygen, with silicate of potash, or silicate of
soda, or any other alkaline silicate or silicates, so that the compound forms a pasty
mass This compound is then dried and immersed in a solution of chloride, sulphate,
nitrate, or other salt of ammonium, or in any acid that will have the effect of
decomposing the alkaline silicate in the compound, so that the alkali of the silicate
may be removed by the salt of ammonium or acid used, and the silica precipitated
intimately amongst the particles of the carbon and peroxide of manganese-The
compound is then boiled in water, which, dissolves out of it everything but the
carbon, peroxide of manganese, and silica.-After which the compound is dried, and
"silico-
is then fit for use, and we term the solidified compound so obtained
carbon" In order more clearly to explain the method of carrying out our Inven-
tion in practice, we will now proceed to describe more particularly our process of
forming solidified masses of carbon with certain of the various substances herein-
before enumerated.-Such method is as follows:-We take carbon in the state of
powder or small particles and mix it with silicate of potash till the whole becomes
a pasty mass-This pasty mass is then formed into any suitable shape by means of
a mould or otherwise, and afterwards dried by exposure to a tolerably warm atmo-
sphere. When dry, it is immersed in a solution of chloride of ammonium, with the
result that decomposition takes place, the aminonia is liberated, and the chlorine
combines with the potassium of the potassium silicate;-Part of the liberated
ammonia is given off in the form of gas, and part remains in solution throughout
the mass, the potassium chloride also remains in solution in the mass, while the
silica is precipitated in situ as a gelatinous material, and therefore as the potassium
silicate was originally intimately mixed with the carbon, the silica now holds or
cements the carbon particles thoroughly together.-In order to dissolve out the

page_text: potassium chloride and the ammonia, the mass is boiled in water after which as a
final operation, it is thoroughly dried and is then fit for use.-We wish it to be
understood that the method last described is only given as a general illustration of
our process. Solidified masses of carbon made according to our Invention may be
employed as elements in electric batteries, as electrodes for electric lamps, and for
various electrical filtering, and other purposes.-In order to form efficient means of
connection for electrical purposes with our solidified masses of carbon, we may
deposit copper, lead, or other metal upon them, or we may place platinum in the
form of wire, or any other suitable shape, in the moulds, into which the pasty
mixture is placed, so that the platinum is thoroughly embedded in the moulded
mass.

page_text: We, SAMUEL JOSEPH COXETER and HEINRICH NEHMER both of 23 Grafton
Street, East, in the county of Middlesex, Electricians, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for "AN IMPROVED PREPARATION OF CARBON, ADAPTED ESPECIALLY
FOR ELECTRICAL AND FILTERING PURPOSES " and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
In carrying out our invention of a method for obtaining preparations of carbon
for elements in electrical batteries, and for other purposes, we mix carbon alone, or
carbon and peroxide of manganese, or other similar substance or substances that
give off oxygen, with silicate of potash or silicate of soda, or any other alkaline
silicate or silicates, so that the compound forms a pasty mass. This compound is
then dried and immersed in a solution of a chloride, sulphate, nitrate or other salt
of ammonium, or chloride of metals, or in any acid that will have the effect of
decomposing the alkaline silicate in the compound, so that the alkali of the silicate
may be removed by the salt of ammonium or acid used, and the silica be pre-
cipitated intimately amongst the particles of the carbon, peroxide of manganese or
other such substances employed.
The compound is then boiled in water, which dissolves out of it, everything but
the carbon, peroxide of manganese (or other similar substances) and the silica.
After this, the Compound is dried and is then fit for use; and we term the
solidified composition so obtained "Silico-Carbon."
In order more clearly to explain the method of carrying out our Invention in
practice, we will now proceed to describe more particularly, our process of forming
solidified compositions of matter, with certain of the various substances hereinbefore
enumerated.
Such method is as follows:-
We take carbon in the state of powder, or small particles, and mix it with
silicate of potash till the whole becomes a pasty mass; this pasty mass is then
formed into any convenient or desired shape, either by pouring or placing it in a
mould, or by rolling on a slab or table into sheets or rods, or by turning on a wheel
like a potter's wheel. And it will be apparent that in all these methods no
hydraulic or other pressure is required to solidify or consolidate the material.
In practice it may sometimes be more convenient to mix the silicate in the form
of dry powder with the powdered carbon, and to dissolve the silicate by the
subsequent application of hot water or steam to the mass.
After the pasty mass has been formed into the desired shape, it is dried by
exposure to a tolerably warm atmosphere.
When dry it is immersed in a solution of chloride of ammonium, with the result
that decomposition takes place, the ammonium is liberated, and the chlorine
combines with the potassium of the potassium silicate; part of the liberated
ammonia is given off in the form of gas, and part remains in solution throughout
the mass; the potassium chloride also remains in solutution in the mass, while the

page_text: silica is precipitated in situ as a gelatinous material, and therefore as the potassium
silicate was originally intimately mixed with the carbon, the silica now holds or
cements the carbon particles thoroughly together.
In order to dissolve out the potassium chloride and the ammonia, the mass is
boiled in water, after which, as a final operation it is thoroughly dried and is then
fit for use.
We wish it to be understood that the method last described is only given as a
general illustration of our process.
.
Solidified compositions of matter, consisting of the matterials herein before
specified, are principally adapted for use as elements in electrical batteries, but may
be employed for various electrical, filtering and other purposes.
In order to form efficient means of connection for electrical purposes with our
solidified nasces of carbon, we may deposit copper, lead or other metal upon them,
or we may place platinum in the form of wire or any other suitable shape in the
moulds into which the pasty mixture is placed, so that the platinum is thoroughly
embedded in the moulded mass.
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
The method of obtaining solidified masses of carbon and silica, or of carbon,
peroxide of manganese (or other similar substance or substances that give off
oxygen) and silica, substantially in the manner and for the purposes hercin set
forth.