Year: 1889

page_text: * ], JOHANN GUIDO WOLF, of No. 7 Tummelplatz, Graz, Austria, Architect, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
My invention relates to a novel plastic fire and weather proof wood mass which I
term "Ossalith and consists in mixing saw-dust, shavings, wood pulp and the like
with calcined magnesite and chloride of magnesium so as to produce an entirely
novel material which can be employed as a binding medium and also as a plastic
mass, the same being rendered harder or softer according to the composition required.
My improved mass or material is, for instance, admirably adapted for producing fire
and weatherproof roofing material railway sleepers, insulators and for various similar
purposes.
In order to manufacture myimproved mass, which term "Ossalith" in consequence
of the main ingredient being wood and as it has the appearance of bone or stone, I
proceed as follows.
The calcined magnesite is stirred with chloride of magnesium to a thin fluid mass,
to which is added a certain quantity of reduced, preferably soft, dry, wood. The
stiff pap-like mass produced by the intimate mixture of these materials is allowed to
dry for about 12 hours in a room having a moderate temperature, and is then placed
into suitable moulds in which it can be dried more rapidly. It is advisable that
the moulds be well shaken during the introduction of the soft mass, in order that the
heavy parts of the mass can come into intimate contact with the walls of the mould
and thus become smooth and perfectly fill out the mould, so that when quite hardened
the formed or moulded object will have a perfectly even, almost polished, surface.
A medium hard mixture, which. when dry can be readily operated on, consists
of the aforenamed ingredients in about the following proportions:-

page_text: This mixture is also admirably adapted for being pressed into moulds. If it is
desired to produce a softer mass than above described, a larger proportion of saw-
dust must be added, and if the mass is to be harder a smaller quantity of sawdust
must be applied, so that the hardness can be modified to any desired degree.
Magnesite and also chloride of magnesium as found in commerce are generally
impure and can be used in this condition if the impurities of the same do not consist
of more than 15 per cent. of carbonate of lime. According to the purpose to which
the objects produced from Ossalith are to be applied, coloring or other materials may
be added to the above-named materials:
For
The weight of my improved mass or material, depends on its hardness but whatever
the degree of hardness may be the mass can always be readily operated on.
instance, if roofing tiles made of Ossalith are employed, nails can be as readily driven
through the same as through soft wood. Soft are more porous than hard mixtures,
and in consequence of such porosity may be employed for electric elements, fire-damp
indicators and for various other purposes.
It will be evident from the foregoing that the improved mass or material herein
described may be advantageously appropriated for manifold purposes, the more so
as articles made from Ossalith may, if broken, be prepared with the same material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The manufacture and employment of Ossalith, a plastic fire and weather proof
wood mass, consisting substantially of sawdust, calcined magnesite and chloride of
magnesium, as herein described.
2. The manufacture from Ossalith of articles of various degrees of hardness
according to the quantity of reduced wood sawdust etc. employed, substantially, as and
for the purpose set forth.