AN IMPROVED COMPOUND REACTIVE AGENT AND UNIVERSAL MORDANT, TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE PROCESSES OF DYEING AND PRINTING
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Garrett Tongue at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd October
1863. A communication from abroad by Antonio Bozzi, of Lecco, in
the Province of Como, in the Kingdom of Italy.
I, JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, of 34,
Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agents and Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"AN IMPROVED COMPOUND REACTIVE AGENT AND UNIVERSAL MORDANT, TO BE
EMPLOYED IN THE PROCESSES OF DYEING AND PRINTING," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to substitute for the various mordants
employed in the processes of dyeing and printing every description of fibrous
material, fabric, or tissue an economical agent or compound preparation called
a "reactive agent" and universal mordant. This improved compound pre-
paration is suitable for being combined with the various coloring matters
employed for dyeing and printing fibrous materials, fabrics, and tissues of every
description composed of silk, wool, cotton, flax, or other animal or vegetable
fibres, either alone or in combination, and of every shade or color required, and
is used as a substitute for the various mordants hitherto employed in the
processes of dyeing and printing fibrous materials, fabrics, and tissues of different
shades and colors.
This Invention also consists in employing the "reactive agent" combined
with other materials for treating the dyed or printed fibrous substances in
order to heighten the colors or impart lustre, permanence, and superior
quality thereto. The improved compound "reactive agent" and universal

page_text: mordant is composed of the following ingredients or their chemical equivalents,
silicate of lime, oxide of iron, sulphate of alumina, urine, potash, saltpetre, and
water, in suitable proportions, the sulphate of alumina being added to the
other ingredients after they have been boiled together in water for about an
hour, care being taken to stir the mixture, which is then removed from the fire.
In about twenty-four hours the clear liquid compound is run off and is ready
for use, and may generally be employed in a cold state, although this may under
some circumstances be varied. The proportions of the compound "reactive
agent" used varies from ten to fifty per cent. or even more according to the
gradation of shade required to be produced. When the "reactive agent" is
employed for bringing up or heightening the colors of the fibrous materials,
fabrics, or tissues (after being dyed or printed in order to impart brightness or
lustre and permanence thereto), a small quantity of lemon juice and white
sugar is added to the previously prepared compound liquid or "reactive
agent" previously described, the dyed or printed fibrous materials, fabrics,
or tissues being steeped in this compound liquid for the above purpose.
Fibrous materials, fabrics, or tissues, dyed, printed, and treated as above
described, will be found to possess superior richness, brilliance, and 1
permanence
in the various shades of color given thereto, for solidity, nerve, or life,
and improved quality being also imparted to the fibrous materials so
treated.