IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING QUARTZ AND SILICEOUS SUBSTANCES TO OBTAIN HYDRATE OF SILICA, AND IN APPLYING THE SAME TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Anthony Leonard Fleury at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th June 1868.
I, ANTHONY LEONARD FLEURY, of Boston, Massachussetts, United
States of America, but now of 4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING QUARTZ AND SILICEOUS SUBSTANCES
TO OBTAIN HYDRATE OF SILICA, AND IN APPLYING THE SAME TO VARIOUS USEFUL
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The nature of this Invention consists in converting silica or silicates
(such as are found in nature, and such as had been produced artifically)
into sulphide of calcium by treating them, in the way below more fully
described, with sulphur or compounds of sulphur, and then in treating
the sulphide of silicium with water or steam, whereby the sulphide is
decomposed and the silicium converted into a hydrate of silica, which
is soluble in hot water, and is ready for use in the arts and manufactures,
as below more fully described. The solutions of silica in water hitherto
used in the arts are mostly combinations of silica with an alkali, such as
soda and potassa, and have been called water glass, which alkaline
solutions when used for paint or for making artificial stones are easily

page_text: decomposed by the carbonic acid of the atmosphere, and therefore are
not durable. Though several remedies have been invented to counteract
this evil, such as the use of chloride of calcium, or of hydrofluoric acid,
or of other such substances as form with the alkali an insoluble com-
pound, still there is yet a great want of a neutral solution of silica, one
that contains no alkali in its composition, and one that may be called
a petrifying liquid, a true solution of opal or flint in water. The liquid
that is produced by the decomposition of sulphite of silicium by water
or steam contains no alkali, and is therefore fit to be used in preference
to alkaline silicates. I first take white quartz, sand, or pulverized flint
or quartz, and mix with it gas tar, petroleum, or its refuse, or any other
suitable carbonaceous substance or hydrocarbon sufficient to make with
the sand or quartz a stiff paste; I then mould the paste into suitable
shapes, such as small balls or pieces and place them into a well closed
crucible or tube made of plumbago or other suitable refractory material.
This is placed in a furnace and heat applied until a bright red heat is
obtained; I then introduce by means of a tube or an opening through
the lower portion of the crucible or heated receptacle, either sulphur in
vapour, or bisulphide of carbon or sulphuretted bydrogen gas, in such
way as to bring the before-mentioned mixture into close contact with
the sulphur. The heat and the carbon present have predisposed the
silica to part with its oxygen, and while on introducing the sulphur or
sulphur compound the carbon combines with the oxygen of the silica
and passes off as carbonic oxide, the free silicium scizes upon the
sulphur and forms with it sulphide of silicium in the form of a greyish
white powder. This sulphide of silicium when dropped into water or
brought in contact with steam decomposes the water; its hydrogen
appropriates the sulphur to form sulphuretted bydrogen (which can be
used over again to form a new portion of sulphide of silicium), and the
oxygen of the decomposed water takes hold of the silicium, forming
with it silicic acid or silica, which absorbs or combines chemically with
a certain quantity of water and forms a hydrate of silica, which is
completely soluble in water. It can easily be seen that if quartz sand,
or powdered siliceous gold ores are substituted for the ordinary quartz
sand, the precious metal can be obtained from the last-named aqueous
solution by simple precipitation. Although sulphide of silicium can be
obtained by the use of any compound of sulphur that does not contain
oxygen, I prefer as the most effective and convenient the use of
bisulphide of carbon alone or mixed with sulphuretted hydrogen.

page_text: Among the uses to which I put the solution of silica in water are the
following:-
First. As a cement for the production of marble, sandstone, and other
hard refractory concretes. Suitable materials, such as marble dust,
sand, chalk, plaster, clay, or lime are heated and then mixed with the
petrifying liquid put into the requisite moulds, wherein they are left to
dry. Artificial marble busts, statues, gravestones, mantle pieces,
ornaments, building stones, and columns, and monuments can be
made. They harden when exposed to the atmosphere and do not
crumble down.
Secondly. As water and fire proof coatings for roofs, cellars, basements,
vaults, sewers, and such like purposes. Shingles when impregnated
with the liquid silica become fire and water proof; the same takes
place with canvas and other porous material. Bricks heated above the
boiling point of water and dipped into the hot solution of silica become
stronger and compact like stone.
Thirdly. As a base for the manufacture of fire and water proof paint.
Mixed with white lead, zinc white, baryta, ultramarine, oxides and
vegetable colors, paper, canvas, wood, and cloth can be painted over
and made water and fire proof. This liquid silica can also be admixed
with glue or albumen, starch, or paste, and used for sizing or glazing
paper or textile fabrics.
Fourthly. As a preventive of decay for wood, which becomes rot
proof, fire and water proof. Railroad sleepers, telegraph poles, ship and
house timber can be made durable and proof against decay and water by
simply impregnating the wood with the liquid.
Fifthly. As a cementing material in the manufacture of millstones,
whetstones, hones, razor straps, polishing stones, and grindstones. For
these purposes it is mixed with powdered ore of iron, cinder from
puddling furnaces, pumicestone or emery, moulded and dried. It is
also useful in the manufacture of porcelain and glass, and for many
other useful purposes.