IMPROVEMENTS IN MORDANTS FOR USE IN DYEING PROCESSES
Year: 1857

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Jean Baptisto Bellon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th April
1857.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE BELLON, of Moorgate Street Chambers, in the City of
London, Practical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MORDANTS FOR USE IN DYEING PROCESSES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists of certain methods of preparing mordants to be used
in dyeing, and which for the sake of convenience may be herein distinguished
and designated as mordants Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
For the preparation of mordant Number 1 a solution of tin should be used,
and which may be obtained in the usual way by treating granulated tin with
hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, or by any other suitablo method, and having
added thereto a proper quantity of sulphuric acid the same should be mixed
with a solution of oxalic acid. The mixture having been allowed to stand for
some time in a suitable, vessel, the mordant will be completed. This mordant
is applicable, instead or in the place of tartaric acid or cream of tartar as at
present used, to the preparation of unmanufactured and manufactured wool for
the reception of scarlet, crimson, flesh colour, pink, yellow, dove colour, orange,

page_text: and other colours, and as a preparation for the reception of colours in dyeing
which alum is used.
Mordant Number 2 is prepared by mixing nitric acid with water until a
temperature, varying according to circumstances, from 45 to 59 degrees of the
thermometric scale of Fahrenheit, is attained. This mordant is to be used in
the preparation of wool for the reception of blue, green, and gray dyes instead
of tartaric acid or cream of tartar, which are now employed.
Mordant Number 3 is prepared by compounding sea salt, sulphate of zinc,
hydrochloric acid, carbonate of soda, and water, and may be used for all
purposes to which mordant Number 2 is applicable.
Mordant Number 4 is obtained by grinding and mixing together sulphate of
iron, sulphato of copper, and tartaric acid, and heating the mixture thus
obtained until the same is converted into the form of a paste. The paste
should then be poured into a vessel containing nitrate of iron, or nitric acid in
which a portion of iron has been previously dissolved, and having been
sufficiently cooled, a solution of acetate of lead in hot water should be added,
when the mordant will be fit for use. This mordant is especially applicable
to wool, woollen thread, felt, silk, and cotton which it is desired to dye black,
the articles or materials being first submitted to the mordant and then dyed in
a bath composed of a decoction of Campeachy wood, or of some other suitable
material or materials, the use of nut galls being altogether dispensed with.
When it is desired to accomplish tho operation with ono bath only another
composition may be employed, and which may be herein designated as
mordant Number 5, and is to be prepared by first heating the decoction of
Campeachy wood or other material or materials, then adding thereto sulphato
of copper and sulphate of iron, and having raised the temperaturo of the
mixture considerably it should be withdrawn from the fire and nitrate of iron
added. The mixture having been stirred until it has become tepid should be
allowed to stand for some time, when it may be used for dyeing black at one
operation.
Other combinations of the materials herein-before mentioned may be made
for the purpose of producing similar results without departing from tho
principles of this Invention.