Improvements in Degumming and Preparing Fibres Derived from Ramie, Hemp, Flax, or the like, so as to Fit them for the Production of the Finest Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Degumming and Preparing Fibres Derived from
Ramie, Hemp, Flax, or the like, so as to Fit them for the
Production of the Finest Textile Fabrics.
A communication from abroad by WALTER R. WADE, of Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America, Chemist.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in
County of Middlesex Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
the
of
The invention consists of a new process of degumming and preparing fibres
derived from ramie, hemp, flax, etcetera, so as to fit them for the use
manufacturers in the production of the finest textile fabrics, as hereinafter fully
described and claimed.'
In practising the invention, the fibre is taken from any of these plants as it is
removed by the decorticator, of which there are numerous varieties in the market,
all more or less effective in decorticating the plants, that is, peeling the bark
containing the fibre from the same, and separating it from the woody stems, in
which condition the different fibres, notably ramie, can be had in the various
markets of the world, although the fibres of flax and hemp are often still freed
from their adherent woody stems by a different process. Any of the above
fibres are boiled in an aqueous alkaline solution of potash or soda and saponin, until
the gum is dissolved, and the strands separated into the smaller fibres of which
they are composed.
The proportions of potash or soda and saponin may be varied within considerable
limits for any one of the above named fibres, and with different samples of the
same fibre should be varied to some extent, as the quantity and quality of the gum
by which the fibres are agglutinated differ in these different plants, and in the
different lots of the same plant.
A man skilled in the art of treating fibres will, through the exercise of his
acquired skill, vary the proportions of the alkali and saponin by observing its action
upon each different lot which he is treating or preparing.
To give ramie as an illustration, as, without its undergoing a previous chemical
preparation, the fibre is unsuited for the manufacture of the finer textile fabrics, it
may be prepared as follows:-
Take the decorticated fibre as above described, boil it at a pressure of from
35 to 50 pounds, from four to five hours in an aqueous solution of caustic soda of
the strength of from one and one half to two and one half degrees of Beaumé's
Areometer (temperature 60 degrees Fahrenheit) to which has been added from
half an ounce to one ounce of crude saponin to every hundred gallons of the
alkaline solution; the strength of the solution, within the above limits, varying
according to the purity of the articles used, the amount of pressure employed, and
the maturity reached by the plants from which the fibres have been obtained, which
latter is easily recognised by the experienced eye.
In place of saponin in the aqueous alkaline solution in which the fibre is boiled,
quillaya bark, which contains saponin, or a decoction or extract of quillaya bark,
is sometimes used. The proportion of potash or soda and quillaya bark may be
varied in the same cases, and for the same reasons above pointed out in the use of
saponin. In preparing ramie, as above described, from one and one half pounds to
ten pounds of quillaya bark, or the extract or decoction from these amounts

page_text: of quillaya bark is used, in each one hundred gallons of the aqueous alkaline
solution.
Saponin is known to exist in other plants than quillaya, all such plants being
for the purpose of this invention, equivalents of quillaya bark, though it is
preferable to use the latter when anything other than saponin itself is to be used.
As soon as this process has dissolved the gum from the fibre, which is evident
from the separation of the fine fibres which compose the largest fibre strands
in their raw state, the fibre is cleansed from the solution and the gum by washing
and pressing. A very good way is to remove the fibre from the solution, wring
it or press it until comparatively dry, then wash it and finally wring or press out
the water.
The fibre is now immersed in a bath of acidulated water, making the bath of
such strength as not to permit the acid to injure the fibre; sulphuric acid will do,
taking about one pound of the ordinary commercial sulphuric acid to one hundred
gallons of water. After remaining in this bath, usually only a few minutes, the
fibre is taken out of the bath and bleached by applicaton of ordinary known
bleaching agents. When the fibre is sufficiently bleached, it is rinsed in water to
remove the bleaching agent, and then boiled in a weak alkaline bath containing
soft soap or other equivalent saponaceous material, until the fibre is sufficiently
softened to be fit for use, and then allowed to cool gradually, after which it is
washed or rinsed and dried, when it is ready to be made into threads or yarn by
the manufacturers and to be manufactured in any known way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :—
1. The herein described process of degumming and preparing fibres, consisting
in boiling them in an alkaline solution containing saponin.
2. The herein described process of degumming and preparing raw fibres,
consisting in boiling the raw fibre in an alkaline solution of potash or soda and
saponin, and subjecting the fibre thus boiled to the action of a bath of acidulated
water.
3. The herein described process of degumming and preparing raw fibres, con-
sisting in dissolving the gum by the action of an alkaline solution of potash or
soda containing saponin, washing out the solution and the dissolved gum, subjecting
the washed fibre to a bath of acidulated water, and boiling the fibre in a slightly
alkaline bath containing soft soap or other saponaceous material.
4. The herein described process of degumming and preparing raw fibres, con-
sisting in boiling them in an alkaline solution containing quillaya bark or a
decoction or extract thereof.
Dated this 26th day of March 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.