A New or Improved Method or Process for the Manufacture of Artificial Wood.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method or Process for the Manufacture of
Artificial Wood.
I, CARL GEIGE, of Broich, near Mulheim on the Ruhr, in the Empire of
Germany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention refers to producing artificial wood from peat or turf and
water containing gypsum.
The invention is as follows:
Raw turf, such as moss turf, white turf, meadow turf, heath turf, or any other
description of turf is lixiviated or deprived of its acidity to such an extent that it
will not turn litmus paper red.
The turf thus treated is then reduced to a mass containing fibres and dust and this
mass is then agitated, or shaken until a felt-like moist mass having its interstices
filled with the dust or powder is obtained. This moist mass is allowed to become
partially dry, and is then intimately mixed with a thin solution of water and
gypsum, in order to fill out the pores. The whole is then placed in suitable moulds
and subjected to hydraulic pressure, within the said moulds so as to get rid of the
surplus water.
As soon as the water ceases to run off from the moulds, the mass is removed
from the latter and dried in a drying room, by an uninterrupted current of cold air,
produced by ventilators.
The high pressure to which the mass is subjected and its previous saturation with
a solution of water and gypsum, which latter fills out the pores of said mass, are
sufficient to almost entirely destroy the hygroscopic properties of the mass. After
having been allowed to become dry, the mass may as a precaution be oiled, or
coated with a solution of resin and spirit.
In manufacturing in large quantities for wholesale requirements in which case
the mass takes longer to work up, glue should be added to the above mixture,
eventually with the addition of chromic acid or chromate of potassium, in order to
prevent the gypsum from binding too quickly.
Artificial wood produced according to my invention offers considerable resistance
to the influence of heat, cold, or pressure, and may be filed, sawn, planed, turned,
cut, glued, coloured and very easily polished.
Doors, panelling, parquet, furniture, stairs, and the like made of artificial wood
produced according to the present invention, are cheaper than objects of the kind
made of ordinary wood, and above all do not warp.
Dated this 31st day of Mov 1801
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method or Process for the Manufacture of
Artificial Wood.
.
I, CARL GEIGE of Broich near Mulheim on the Ruhr in the Empire of
Gerinany, Merchant, 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 :-
The present invention relates to a new or improved method or process for the

page_text: manufacture of artificial wood from peat and a solution of gypsum or plaster of
Paris in water.
The invention is as follows:-
Raw peat such as moss-peat, white-peat, meadow-peat, heath-peat or wood-peat,
or any other description of peat, is washed or lixiviated and thus deprived of its
acidity until it will not turn litmus paper red. Then the washed peat is completely
disintegrated or separated into fibres, so as to produce a curly or crinkled fibrous
mass and also a floury or powdery mass. These two masses are mixed together
and agitated to and fro and shaken together until there is produced a moist felted
mass containing the peat flour or powder in its interstices. This moist mass is then
allowed to partially dry, and is then intimately mingled with a solution of gypsum
or plaster of Paris in water, so as to fill up the pores. This mixture also is allowed
to dry partially, and when it is half dry, it is placed (in its half dry state) into
suitable moulds and there subjected to a hydraulic pressure. The mass is left for
a short time in the moulds under this pressure until all water in excess has been
removed, and when no more water runs off, the mass is taken out of the moulds and
dried in a drying chamber by a continuous cold current of air produced say by
means of fans.
The effect of the great pressure and of the previous impregnation with the
solution of gypsum or plaster of Paris in water (the gypsum or plaster of Paris
contained in said solution having filled up the pores) is to almost destroy or remove
the hygroscopic properties of the mass.
As an additional precaution the mass, when dry, is oiled, or is coated with a
solution of resin in alcohol, or the like.
The following proportions of mixture have been found to be suitable :-
When the manufacture is carried on on a large scale, and the mass consequently
requires a longer time to mix and wash, it is desirable in order that the gypsum or
plaster of Paris shall not bind or set so quickly, to add to the above mentioned
substances one part by volume of glue, with, if necessary, an addition of chromate
of potash.
Instead of gypsum or plaster of Paris, glue alone may be added. Furthermore,
instead of glue, rye-flour, dextrine, or the like, may be added, with or without
gypsum or plaster of Paris, or magnesia cement, may be used.
The artificial wood made according to the hereinabove described process is
proof to a high degree against heat, cold, and pressure, and can be filed, sawn,
planed, turned, cut, glued, dyed, and extremely readily polished.
Doors, panelling, wainscotting, parquet-flooring, furniture, stair treads, and the
like, made of artificial wood according to this invention excel similar articles made
from ordinary or natural wood, both as regards cheapness, and also by the fact that
the former do not warp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The new or improved method or process for the manufacture of artificial
wood, wherein raw peat is washed or lixiviated so as to deprive it of acid,
disintegrated into fibres, the mixture (thus produced) of peat fibres and peat flour or
powder being agitated to and fro or shaken to form a felted moist mass which
contains the peat flour or powder in its interstices, and the said mass being then
allowed to become partly dry, is mixed with a solution of gypsum or plaster of
Paris in water, (or) with glue, rye-flour, dextrine, magnesia-cement, or the like,
placed into moulds and subjected to a high pressure as set forth.

page_text: 2. The new or improved method or process for the manufacture of artificial
wood all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described together with
any mere modification or modifications thereof.
.
Dated this 9th day of October 1891
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.