Improvements in the Manufacture of Anti-fouling Compositions or Paints
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
66
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Anti-fouling Compositions or
Paints."
(A communication from abroad by JOHN CLEASBY TAYLOR, of Las Palmas, Grand
Canary, Doctor of Medicine).
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of the firm of J. C. Mewburn and Ellis of 55 and 56
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the manufacture of anti-fouling compositions or
paints more particularly for ships' bottoms and other structures exposed to the action
of sea or other water in order to prevent the adhesion of barnacles, weeds &c.
The invention consists in the addition to any ordinary paint, or to the ingredients
employed in making ordinary paint, of corrosive sublimate (bichloride of mercury)
and alcohol.
In carrying out the invention I dissolve the corrosive sublimate in alcohol. I then
incorporate this solution with the paint or with ordinary ingredients for making
paint.
I am aware that mercurial paints for use for anti-fouling purposes have already
been made, but in such paints as hitherto made the anti-fouling element, that is the
mercury, not being soluble, sinks to the bottom of the cask or drum in which the
paint is packed, and consequently unless the paint is very well stirred before use, its
virtue is lost. This objection is overcome by means of my invention the compound
of mercury being soluble and not liable to become deposited upon the bottom of the
casks or drums.
This 10th
CL
1005

page_text: the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to the manufacture of anti-fouling compositions or
paints more particularly for ships' bottoms and other structures exposed to the action
of sea or other water in order to prevent the adhesion of barnacles, weeds, &c.
The invention consists in the addition to any ordinary paint, or to the ingredients
employed in making ordinary paint of corrosive sublimate (bichloride of mercury)
dissolved in a solvent preferably alcohol.
In carrying out the invention I dissolve the corrosive sublimate in the alcohol or
other solvent. I then incorporate this solution with the paint or with ordinary
ingredients for making paint.
Suitable proportions of the bichloride of mercury and alcohol are about 10 pounds
by weight of the former to 50 pounds of the latter.
As regards the proportion of this solution of the bichloride in alcohol to be added
to paints it should vary according to circumstances. For example for vessels trading
in the temperate zone, say in the Baltic or Mediterranean a suitable proportion is one
gallon of the solution to 40 gallons of paint; for vessels trading in tropical waters
such as the Indian Ocean one gallon of the solution to 30 gallons of paint, and for
.vessels such as Men of War which are not likely to be docked for recoating for a long
period, one gallon of the solution to 20 gallons of paint..
I am aware that mercurial paints for use for anti-fouling purposes have already
been made, but in such paints as hitherto made the anti-fouling-element, that is the
mercury, not being in solution, sinks to the bottom of the cask or drum in which the
paint is packed, and consequently unless the paint is very well stirred befere use, its
virtue is lost. This objection is overcome by means of the present invention, the
compound of mercury being in solution and not liable to deposit upon the bottom
of the casks or drums.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion as communicated to me, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
I declare that what I claim is :-
In the manufacture of anti-fouling compositions or paints the use of corrosive
sublimate (bichloride of mercury) dissolved in alcohol or other solvent, substantially
as and for the purpose herein before described.
Dated thin 9th dox of November 1807
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.