IMPROVED METHOD OF MANUFACTURING NITRO-CELLULOSES FOR USE IN WAR, MINING, AND GENERAL PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James William Bantock, of 5, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVED METHOD
OF MANUFACTURING NITRO-CELLULOSES FOR USE IN WAR, MINING, AND
GENERAL PURPOSES.”
Scaled the 8th June 1877, and dated the 12th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James William Bantock at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th December 1870.
JAMES WILLIAM BANTOCK, of 5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVED METHOD OF MANUFACTURING NITRO-CELLULOSES FOR
USE IN WAR, MINING, AND GENERAL PURPOSES."
1st. Take cellulose of any kind and clean from foreign substances by any of the
well known processes in use.
2nd. The cellulose should then be steeped in a mixture of nitric acid, sulphuric
acid, and a neutral salt, such as proto-sulphate of potassium, proto-sulphate of
sodiuin, or their equivalents, combined in proportions varying according to the
purposes for which the nitro-celluloses are to be employed.
A good mixture is the following :
-
34 lbs. of nitric acid 1.5 sp. gr.
65 lbs. of sulphuric acid 1-84 sp. gr.
1 lb. of anhydrous sulphate of potassium.
To 100 lbs. of this mixture I add 8 lbs. of perfectly dry cellulose, and allow the
whole to stand for a few hours on shallow dishes. The nitro-celluloses thus formed
are drained from excess of the acid mixture and washed in pure water until the
washings fail to redden blue litmus paper.
3rd. To the nitro-celluloses thus formed are added oxidising salts, such as nitre or
chloride of potash, &c., in such proportions as may be requisite for the purposes for
which the nitro-celluloses are to be applied. A good mixture is 25 lbs. of nitre
and 15 lbs. of chloride of potash per 100 lbs. of anhydrous nitro-cellulose. I prepare
a solution of the salt or salts I choose to use, and saturate the neutral nitro-
celluloses under pressure varying according to the mechanical condition of the
celluloses first used; carefully maintaining the whole at a temperature sufficient to
¡Price 2d1

page_text: retain the whole of the oxidising salts in solution. I leave the mass digesting for a
few hours, and then filter off excess of solution by the aid of a vacuum pump.
mass of nitro-cellulose left on the filter is then dried.
The
acid, and a neutral salt, such as proto-sulphate of potassium, proto-sulphate or
sodium, or their equivalents, combined in proportions varying according to the
purposes for which the nitro-celluloses are to be employed.
A good mixture is the following:-
34 lbs. of nitric acid 1.5 sp. gr.
65 lbs. of sulphuric acid 1-84 sp. gr.
1 lb. of anhydrous sulphate of potassium.
To 100 lbs. of this mixture 1 add 8 lbs. of perfectly dry cellulose, and allow the
whole to stand for a few hours on shallow dishes. The nitro-celluloses thus formed
are drained from excess of the acid mixture, and washed in pure water until the
washings fail to redden blue litmus paper.
Third. To the nitro-celluloses thus formed are added oxidising salts, such as nitre
or chlorate of potash in such proportions as may be requisite for the purposes for
which the nitro-celluloses are to be applied. A good mixture is 25 lbs. of nitre
and 15 lbs. of chlorate of potash per 100 lbs. of anhydrous nitro-cellulose.
Fourth. I prepare a solution of the salt or salts I choose to use, and saturate the
neutral nitro-celluloses under pressure varying according to the mechanical condition
of the cellulose first used; carefully maintaining the whole at a temperature
sufficient to retain the whole of the oxidising salts in solution. I leave the mass
digesting for a few hours, and then filter off excess of solution by the aid of a
vacuum pump. The mass of nitro-cellulose left on the filter is then dried.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention for "Improved Method
of Manufacturing Nitro-celluloses for Use in War, Mining, and General Purposes,"
and in what manner the same is to be perforined, I declare that I claim, the
improved mode of manufacturing nitro-cellulose and salting same in and by the
treatment, substantially as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James William Bantock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One 4
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.