PRODUCTION. OF A NEW FIBROUS MATERIAL SUITABLE FOR SPINNING, WEAVING, AND SUCH LIKE PURPOSES, AND THE PROCESSES EMPLOYED IN PRODUCING THE SAME
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Watson, of No. 108, Bishopsgate Street, in the
City of London, Merchant and Broker, for the Invention of THE PRODUCTION.
OF A NEW FIBROUS MATERIAL SUITABLE FOR SPINNING, WEAVING, AND SUCH
LIKE PURPOSES, AND THE PROCESSES EMPLOYED IN PRODUCING THE SAME."
A communication from abroad by Oscar Blankenburg, Esq., First Guild
Merchant, of Rybinsk, in the Empire of Russia.
i
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Watson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd July 1877.
EDWARD WATSON, of No. 108, Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London,
Merchant and Broker. "THE PRODUCTION OF A NEW FIBROUS MATERIAL
SUITABLE FOR SPINNING, WEAVING, AND SUCH LIKE PURPOSES, AND THE PROCESSES
EMPLOYED IN PRODUCING THE SAME" [A communication from abroad by Oscar
Blankenburg, Esq., First Guild Merchant, of Rybinsk, in the Empire of Russia.]
This Invention consists in the production of a new fibrous material resembling.
flax from a swamp plant growing principally in the countries bordering on the,
Caspian Sea, and known under the name of "Keneff." For this purpose the plant
is first soaked in an alkaline lye in order to remove the hard sheath-like coating,
after which it is subjected to a beating or scutching operation in machines of known.
construction, such as are used for beating or scutching flax, so as to remove the hard
woody particles that have not already been removed by the lye bath; and, lastly,,
the partially separated fibres are subjected to a combing process by any combing
machine of known construction, such as are now used for combing flax. The resulting
fibre is of a silvery white or lead colour, or of a light yellowish red, and possesses.
considerable strength, enabling it to be employed with advantage for spinning,
weaving, and such like purposes.

page_text: In many descriptions of the said plant the hard silecious particles exist only in
such small quantities that the steeping in lye may be dispensed with, and the
separation and softening of the fibres be entirely effected by the beating or scutching
and combing processes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Watson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st January
1878.
"
EDWARD WATSON, of No. 108,. Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London,
Merchant and Broker. THE PRODUCTION OF A NEW FIBROUS MATERIAL
SUITABLE FOR SPINNING, WEAVING, AND SUCH LIKE PURPOSES, AND THE PROCESSES
EMPLOYED IN PRODUCING THE SAME." A communication from abroad, by Oscar
Blankenbury, Esq., First Guild Merchant, of Rybinsk, in the Empire of Russia.
"
This Invention consists in the production of a new fibrous material termed
Barsuk," resembling flax, from the plant hibiscus cannabinus Lin., belonging to
the dicotyledons of the family of malvacea, growing principally in the districts
bordering on the Caspian Sea, and known under the name of "Keneff."
The stem is straight, simple, round, and partially covered with small uninjurious
spikes, but otherwise smooth. The leaves are horizontal, alternating in position,
and with stalks; the lower leaves are heart-shaped, and in the middle of the stem
they are palmate, with 3, 4, or 5 lance-shaped spikes, which are serrated on the
edge, but smooth on the surface, having on the under side at the basis of the middle
rid a gland.
The leaf stalk is as long as the leaf, and has on the under side small spikes. The
flowers are situated singly at the junctions of the leaves; they are very large, pale-
yellow, with a deep purple ground. The calix is externally 7 to 8 leaved, spread
out, and closely joined to the corolla at the base. The corolla has five petals, which
are sharp pointed, upright, and glandular on the edges, with a large gland in the
middle of each petal.
In order to prepare the plant for treatment it is cut down and placed in large
tubs with water to soften. The fibrous part having softened and separated from
the central tube, which is surrounded by the fibre, it is placed in the sun or in a
warm place to dry. In drying, the outer shell separates, and can be stripped off the
fibrous part with the hand, this being enclosed by the former as a sheath. The
fibrous substance obtained in this manner was subjected to a microscopic and micro-
chemical examination, whereby the following properties were discovered:-By way
of experiment the fibrous substance was boiled in water in order to dissolve the
pectin substance by which the separate fibres are principally cemented together.
Two fibres were then carefully separated from each other, and examined under the
microscope, whereby it was found that the fibres have the appearance of a cylinder,
with a passage which is however wider than that of flax; this passage widens and
contracts in places, so that the inner surfaces thereof are not parallel with the outer
surfaces, thus forming thicker parts in the sides. The ends of each fibre are slightly
swollen. The fibrous matter was treated with sulphate of aniline, when it was
found that it assumed a dark colour instead of yellow, which proved that it contained
lignin or woody substance. The fibre was washed and treated with a solution of

page_text: oxide of copper in ammonia, whereupon a slight swelling and a slight blue colora-
tion was observed, but no dissolution. From doubt as to the quality of the re-agent,
fresh oxide of copper solution in ammonia was prepared, whereupon exactly the
same result as above stated was obtained, which proved that besides cellulose other
substances than lignin were contained in the fibre. This is confirmed by the fol-
lowing experiment:-Three small bundles of the fibre were boiled in a weak solution
of potass lye, and were then treated with sulphate of anilin, whereupon a yellow
coloration was obtained. On then treating for a few seconds with fuming nitric
acid a red coloration was obtained, which was characteristic of the presence of
lignin. Equally corroborative is the fact that the yellow coloration which is
obtained on treating the fibre with a solution of iodine in alcohol immediately
turns red as soon as sulphuric acid is added. A similar test with iodine and sulphuric
acid was carried out after having first removed the other constituent parts by
means of potass lye, when a blue coloration was obtained, which is characteristic
of cellulose. As the cellulose is only soluble in the "Schweizer" re-agent (a solution
of oxide of copper in ammonia) the lignin which imparts to the fibre the hardness
but also the strength can be removed by treating with a very weak solution of
potass lye. For this purpose soda lye may be used in place of potass lye, being
cheaper, and therefore more readily applicable for manufacturing purposes. The
solution is made very weak, and the fibre is only subjected to its action for a few
seconds, after which it is very carefully washed and dried.
As this fibre in its natural state does not contain much lignin in its air cells, and
is therefore tolerably pliable, the above chemical treatment is seldom required, and
the fibre is at once subjected to the mechanical treatment. This consists of two
operations, which both have the same object, namely, the most perfect possible
separation of the fibres from each other. The first is a scutching operation, and the
second a combing process. The scutching of the fibre is effected by workmen, each
working at one scutching machine; their function consists solely in holding hand-
fulls of the fibre under the arms of a six-armed wheel rotating in a vertical plane, so
as to cause the arms to beat or scutch the fibre. For this purpose the scutching
machine has a moveable board as a table, on which the workman places the quantity
of fibre to be scutched, and which he then approaches to the scutching wheel by a
motion of the knee.
The combing is effected by means of rotating rollers or cylinders provided with
comb teeth, on to which the workman throws the one end of a bundle of fibre, the
other end of which is secured between clamps, so as to subject the fibre to the
combing action for a time.
The product obtained by this means is called "Barsuk." It has either a silvery
white or lead coloured or faint yellowish red appearance, and is remarkable for its
suppleness, and for the facility with which the fibres are separated from each
other.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim,―
First. The production of a new fibrous material from the plant hibiscus cannabinus
Lin., suitable for spinning, weaving, and such like purposes.
Second. The process herein described for obtaining the said fibrous material from
the hibiscus cannabinus Lin., whereby the said plant is first soaked in water for the
removal of the outer shell, then treated with alkaline lye, and then subjected con-
secutively to a scutching and a combing operation.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Watson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
EDW. WATSON. (L.S.)