IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLASTIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING BONE OR SIMILAR MATERIAL AND OF ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM commu- nic
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLASTIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING
BONE OR SIMILAR MATERIAL AND OF ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM commu-
nicated to him from abroad by The Bonsilate Company, Limited, of Albany,
New York, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th August 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE of 'the firm of Haseltine Lake and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
PLASTIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING BONE OR SIMILAR MATERIAL AND OF ARTICLES
"
MADE THEREFROM [A communication to him from abroad by The Bunsilate
Company, Limited, of Albany, New York, United States of America]
This invention relates to plastic materials or compositions containing comminuted
bone, horn, ivory or analogous substances, and other materials, and has for its object
to produce compositions which may be effectually utilized in the manufacture of
articles made in imitation of ivory, also the manufacture of such articles all as herein-
after set forth.
The first part of this invention is based upon the discovery that phosphate of
ammonia (or its elements, viz: phosphoric acid and ammonia) may be combined
with bone or analogous substance to form a chemical compound, which may be
moulded into any desired shape by means of heated dies; and also that it may be
combined with bone, ivory, horn, or similar substance, and shellac in the production
of a composition heretofore unknown.
In carrying that part of the said invention into practice wherein I employ
phosphate of ammonia and bone or analogous material, I make use of a chemically
pure phosphate of ammonia, which is by preference as nearly dehydrated as
possible, and bone or similar substance comminuted and desiccated to form an
impalpable powder and as free as possible from foreign matter.

page_text: The ingredients having been prepared I take about eight (8) pounds of pulverized
bone and add to it about two ounces of phosphate of ammonia, mixing the two in
any convenient manner. The powdered material thus formed is introduced into the
moulds and completed by pressure. The moulds are of the kind usually employed
and are heated to a temperature due to a pressure of, say, sixty to eighty pounds
of steam, the pressure on the inoulds being from about one to two tons to the
square inch.
In the production of compositions in which I make use of phosphate of ammonia
(or its elements, via phosphoric acid and, ammonia) bone, ivory, horn, or analogous
substances, and shellac, I follow substantially the steps and proportions indicated
above, adding to the eight pounds of comminuted bone or analogous substance and
two ounces of phosphate of ammonia, two pounds of shellac as nearly desiccated as
possible. These elements are then thoroughly mixed, after which the resultant
material in powdered form is ready for introduction to the moulds without further
manipulation.
I do not limit myself, to the exact proportions stated, as they may be varied to
some extent without impairing the result, and it is obvious that the addition of
pigments and inert material may be made to the ingredients without prejudice. It
will be apparent, also, that an appropriate solvent may be used in mixing, the
ingredients if desired, and the compound may be worked by means of mixing
rollers; or other like expedients may be resorted to if circumstances demand it or it
may seem more convenient.
A further and very important part of this invention consists in the treatment of
the bone dust or analogous material to provent the gelatine therein from becoming
soluble, and in carrying this part of the said invention into practice I dissolve
one (1) part of sulphate of zinc in, say, forty (40) parts of water and add to the
Bolution thus formed, say, sixteen parts of bone, horn, ivory-dust or similar material.
After the ingredients are completely dissolved the solution is subjected to the
action of what is known as a "water bath." That is to say, the solution is placed
in a vessel and the vessel containing the solution placed in a larger vessel containing
water. The temperature of the "water-bath" is gradually raised to about one
hundred and eighty degrees Fahrenheit, the material being in the meantime
thoroughly stirred. or agitated so as to bring all the particles of the bone or other
dust into intimate contact with the zinc. After the bath has been raised to the
required degree of temperature, the bone or other dust which has by this time
become "zincated" is washed with cold water, whereby the free acid is removed.
The resultant material, which I have designated "Zincated Bone" is then slowly
dried at a temperature of about one hundred and twenty degrees (120) Fahrenheit;
after which it is mixed with an ammoniacal solution of shellac consisting of about
two parts of shellac to, say, eight parts of the zincated bone, which solution is
treated to remove the aqueous particles, leaving the zincated bone and shellac in a
condition to be introduced into the dies or moulds.. Or the zincated bone may be
united in other manners with a water-repellant other than shellac according to
circumstances.
The proportions of the materials, the kind or quality of bone or analogous
material, and the water-repellant may be varied without essentially altering the
result.
This invention also comprises a material produced by combining bone or horn
dust or similar substance with tannate of iron according to one or the other of two
Bay I
formulas hereinafter specified, one of which formules is, as follows that is to
take, say, sixteen (16) parts of bone ground to an impalpable powder and thoroughly
nix the same with four (4) parts of solid extract of logwood made into a solution;
from the compound thus formed I expel all the moisture by evaporation at, say,
about 120° Fahrenheit, after which the material is ready to be submitted to the
dies for giving form to the same. The degrees of heat and pressure to which the
dies are subjected in moulding the material will vary, according to circumstances,
but I have found that when a pressure of about, say, two thousand (2000). pounds

page_text: to the square inch is continued from five (5) to ten (10) minutes under a heat
equal to about seventy (70) pounds of steam, a very satisfactory result is secured.
The second formula, the employment of which produces a result the same in all
essential respects as that given above, is, as follows:-I take say two (2) parts of
tannate of iron and combine the same with, say, eight (8) parts of bone dust,
following the steps of the formula first above given.
The resultant product of either formula is a solid black material susceptible of
a high polish and practically waterproof.
The chemical combination of the ingredients of either formula makes tannate of
iron and gelatine. In the first formula the tannic acid present in the logwood
combines with the gelatine of the bone and the iron in their proper proportions.
In lieu of bone dust the dust of horn, ivory and other like materials may be
used, although I prefer bone dust.
It is obvious that pigments or other substances of an appropriate nature, in
quantities which will not prejudicially affect the result, may be added to those
above mentioned without departing from the nature of this invention. It is also
obvious that the proportions and degrees above given may be varied to some
extent according to the particular result sought to be attained and other
circumstances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris, Lake in the Patent Office on the 27th February
1884.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and C° Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE 'MANUFACTURE OF
PLASTIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING BONE OR SIMILAR MATERIAL AND OF ARTICLES
MADE THEREFROM A communication to me from abroad by The Bonsilate
Company Limited of Albany, New York, United States of America.
"
This invention relates to plastic materials or compositions containing comminuted
bone, horn, ivory or analogous substances, and other materials, and has for its object
to produce a composition which may be effectually utilized in the manufacture of
articles made in imitation of ivory. It also relates to the manufacture of such
articles all as hereinafter set forth.
The first part of this invention is based upon the discovery that phosphate of
ammonia (or its elements, viz: phosphoric acid and ammonia) may be combined
with bone or analogous substance to form a chemical compound which may be
moulded into any desired shape by means of beated dies; and also that it may be
combined with bone, ivory, horn, or similar substance, and shellac in the production
of a composition heretofore unknown.
In carrying one part of the said invention into practice I employ phosphate of
ammonia and bone or analogous material, and I make use of a chemically pure
phosphate of ammonia, which is, by preference, as nearly dehydrated as possible,
and bone or similar substance comininuted and desiccated to form an impalpable
powder and as free as possible from foreign matter.
The ingredients having been prepared. I take about eight (8) pounds of pulverized
bone and add to it about two ounces of phosphate of ammonia, mixing the two in
any convenient manner. The powdered material thus formed is introduced into the
moulds and completed by pressure. The moulds are of the kind usually employed
and are heated, to a temperature due to a pressure of say, sixty to eighty pounds
of steam, the pressure on the moulds being from about one to two tons to the
square inch
In the production of compositions in which I make use of phosphate of ammonia
(or its elements, viz: phosphoric acid and ammonia), bone, ivory, horn, or analogous
substances, and shellac, I follow substantially the steps and proportions indicated
above, adding to the eight pounds of comminuted bone or analogous substance and
two ounces of phosphate of ammonia, two pounds of shellac as nearly desiccated as
possible. These elements are then thoroughly mixed, after which the resultant
material, in powdered form, will be ready for introduction to the moulds without
further manipulation.
I do not limit myself, to the exact proportions stated, as they may be varied to
some extent without impairing the result, and it is obvious that the addition of
pigments and inert material may be made to the ingredients without prejudice.
It will be apparent, also, that an appropriate solvent may be used in mixing the
ingredients if desired, and the compound may be worked by means of mixing
rollers, or other like expedients may be resorted to if circumstances demand it, or
it may seen more convenient.
A further, and very important, part of this invention consists in the treatment of
the bone dust or analogous material to prevent the gelatine tlierein from, becoming
soluble. In carrying this part of the said invention into practice, I dissolve
one (1) part of sulphate of zinc iu, say, forty (40) parts of water and add to
the solution thus formed, say, sixteen parts of bone, horn, ivory-dust or similar

page_text: material. After the ingredients are completely dissolved the solution is subjected
to the action of what is known as a "water bath," that is to say, the solution is
placed in a vessel and the vessel containing the solution placed in a larger vessely
containing water. The temperature of the "water-bath is gradually raised to
about one hundred and eighty degrees Fahrenheit, the material being in the
meantime thoroughly stirred or agitated so as to bring all the particles of the
bone or other dust into intimate contact with the zinc. After the bath has been
raised to the required degree of temperature, the bone or other dust which will by:
this time have become " zincated," will be washed with cold water, whereby the free
acid will be removed.
The resultant material which I have designated "zincated bone," is then slowly
dried at a temperature of about one hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit;
after which it is mixed with an ammoniacal solution of shellac, consisting of about
two parts of shellac to, say, eight parts of the zincated bone, which solution is.
treated to remove the aqueous particles, leaving the zincated bone and shellac in a
condition to be introduced into the dies or moulds. Or the zincated bone may be.
united in other manners with a water-repellant other than shellac according to
circumstances
ว
The proportions of the materials, the kind or quality of bone or analogous"
material, and the water-repellant may be varied without essentially altering the.
result
This invention also comprises a material produced by combining bone or horn-
dust or similar substance with tannate of iron. According to one method I take,
say, sixteen (16) parts of bone ground to an impalpable powder and thoroughly
mix the same with four (4) parts of solid extract of logwood made into a solution,
From the
and then add one (1) part of sulphate of iron made into a solution.
compound thus formed I expel .all the moisture by. evaporation at, say, about
120° Fahrenheit, after which the material is ready to be submitted to the dies for
giving form to the same. The degrees of heat and pressure to which the dies are
subjected in moulding the material will vary, according to circumstances, but I
have found that when a pressure of about, say, two thousand (2000) pounds to the
square inch is continued from five (5) to ten (10) minutes under a heat equal to
about seventy (70) pounds of steam, a very satisfactory result is secured..
According to another method, the employment of which produces a result the
same in all essential respects as that given above, I take, say two (2) parts of tannate
of iron and combine the same with, say, eight (8) parts of bone dust, following the
steps of the method first above given.
The resultant product of either method is a solid black material susceptible of a
high polish and practically waterproof.
The chemical combination of the ingredients makes tannate of iron and gelatine.
In the first method the tannic acid present in the logwood combines with the
gelatine of the bone and the iron in proper proportions
In lieu of bone dust the dust of horn, ivory and other like materials may be
used, although I prefer bone dust
It is obvious that pigments or other substances of an appropriate nature, in
quantities which will not prejudicially affect the result, may be added to those
above mentioned without departing from the nature of this invention. It is also
obvious that the proportions and degrees above given may be varied to some extent
according to the particular result sought to be attained, and other circumstances
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim :
First A composition consisting essentially of phosphate of ammonia or its
elements, and comminuted bone in about the proportions specified
Second An article formed by subjecting a compound consisting of phosphate of
ammonia, or its elements, and comminuted bone in about the proportions set forth,
to heated moulds, as herein before described.

page_text: Third. The plastic material or composition herein before described which consists
essentially of bone or similar material, shellac and phosphate of ammonia (or its
elements) combined in substantially the proportions hereinbefore set forth
Fourth The use in compositions consisting of bone or analogous materials and a
water-repellant, of sulphate of zinc for the purpose of rendering the gelatine in the
bone or analogous material, insoluble, substantially as set forth
Fifth. The material described as "zincated bone" which consists of sulphate of
zinc and bone or analogous material; the free sulphuric acid being removed;
substantially as set forth
Sixth. The process of treating bone and other analogous dusts, which consists
(1) in mixing the dust with sulphate of zinc, (2) submitting the mixture thus
formed to a water bath, and (3) removing the free acid; substantially as set forth
Seventh. A plastic material formed by the combination of tannic acid with the
gelatine of bone, and iron; substantially as set forth.
Eighth. A material composed of tannate of iron and bone or hora dust;
substantially as set forth.
Ninth An article consisting essentially of tannate, of iron and bone or horn dust,
and formed under pressure in a heated die or mould; substantially as set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty seventh day of February in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty four
HENRY H. LAKE (LS)