Improvements in Paints and Paint Compounds.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Paints and Paint Compounds.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, of 52 Chancery Lane,
London, in the County of Middlesex. Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, which has been communicated to me from abroad by George
Washington Banker, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, Merchant,
and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"
This invention relates to improvements in paints and paint compounds, and consists
in grinding the pigments with corn oil," so called, (that is to say the oil which may
be obtained from the germs of Indian corn or Maize), or mixing corn oil with the
ground pigments with or without a Dryer.
In the manufacture of Glucose and of Starch, and also in Whiskey distilling the
corn "germs" which are harmful in these manufactures, are separated from the other
parts of the grain.
I have discovered that the oil obtained from these corn germs can be used in place
of linseed or other oils in the manufacture of paints, with the following improvements
in the resulting product.
First Owing to the peculiar characteristics or qualities of corn oil, white paint
made by its use when used for inside work, or in other places where the light is not
strong, retain their whiteness permanently, and do not turn yellow or cream colored

page_text: as the white paints do which are prepared by the employment of linseed oil. This, as
I believe, is owing to the fact that linseed oil when not exposed to strong light or
sunshine which bleaches it, turns yellowish because of oxidation, and this invention
consists in the discovery that corn oil does not turn thus yellow, but on the contrary
retains its original whiteness.
Second-In making tinted colors, the tints are much more permanent when
corn oil is used than when linseed oil is used. This is especially true in colors used
for interior painting where the gradual darkening of the linseed oil colors as they
gradually oxydize, gradually changes delicate tints.
Third-Corn oil more readily unites with the pulverized pigments during the
grinding process, and produces a more homogeneous mixture than when linseed oil is
used, and not only is this true at the time of grinding, but the mass retains its
homogeneity without separation of the oil from the pigment for a practically indefinite
time, and as a result of this quality the subsequent preparation of the paint for use is
much more easily and perfectly effected because there is no compacted pigment
consequent on the separation of the oil and pigment which the added turpentine or
oil used for thinning the paint ordinarily has to cut or break up.
Fourth-Paints prepared with corn oil are much smoother in application than
other paint.
Fifth-They possess greater elasticity and do not either "chalk off" or "scale."
Sixth-The paints are cheaper.
The corn oil that I refer to herein is the oil contained in the germs of Indian corn
or Maize, which can be obtained therefrom either by pressure or by dissolving it out
from the germs with benzine or bisulphide of carbon or other solvents. Its weight
is about seven and three quarters pound to the gallon, and it is at the present time
known as an article of commerce.
In the preparation of the paint, I proceed as in the manufacture of ordinary paint
when linseed or other oils are employed, and I use such pigments as may be desired
or requisite for the production of the paint, the superiority of the corn oil over other
oils being realized irrespective of the special pigment employed. The white lead,
white zinc, the chemical colors, so called, the earth and the mineral and metallic
pigments may all be used, and when I use the term "pigment" in my claims, I use
it generically and mean to include any pigment irrespective of its class.
The pigments are thoroughly mixed with the corn oil, and then ground in any
suitable apparatus.
The proportions of pigments and corn oil are substantially the same as those
employed in making other commercial paints. That is to say, taking white lead as
an example, to one hundred (100) pounds of white lead, and from eight (8) to ten
(10) per cent of the corn oil depending on the desired consistency of the ground
product. As is well understood in this art, however, the proportions of pigment and
oil will vary within widely differing degrees depending on the particular pigment
employed.
Corn oil is one of the class of "semi drying" oils and therefore it is usually
desirable to mix with the paint some sort of dryer. The proportions of dryer will
depend on the kind of pigment used and the speed of drying required as is well
understood by paint makers.
The corn oil may be bleached if desired before adding to the pigment or mixing
in the paint the same as linseed oil.
I prefer to employ the corn oil pure, except the dryer when it is used, both for
grinding the pigment in, and also for subsequently thinning it preparatory to use,
either alone or in connection with turpentine or other material, but I do not limit
myself to the use of corn oil alone or pure, since other oil or substances may be
mixed therewith either during the grinding operation or for thinning the paint prior
to use, or the pigments may be used in other kinds of oil and then the corn oil be
added for thinning the paint, or the pigment may be ground in corn oil and other
oil, or other oils, and turpentine, or its equivalent, or turpentine or its equivalent
alone be used to thin the paint preparatory to use.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
First: The above described paint composed essentially of corn oil and a pigment,
substantially as set forth.
Second-The above described paint composed essentially of corn oil and a dryer
and a pigment, substantially as set forth.
Third-The within described paste paint composed of a pigment ground in corn
oil substantially as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of September 1887.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.