A NEW OR IMPROVED HARDENING COMPOSITION, AND ITS EMPLOYMENT WITH INDIA-RUBBER, GUMS, AND OILS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "A NEW OR IMPROVED HARDENING COMPOSITION, AND ITS EMPLOYMENT
WITH INDIA-RUBBER, GUMS, AND OILS."-A communication from abroad
by John Ballou Newbrough, of the City and State of New York,
in the United States of America.
Sealed the 14th October 1870, and dated the 20th April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th April 1870.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED HARDENING COMPOSITION, AND ITS EMPLOY-
MENT WITH INDIA-RUBBER, GUMS, AND OILS," a communication from abroad
by John Ballou Newbrough, of the City and State of New York, in the
United States of America, to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to the production of a new substance which is
called acid resin, and to the employment of such acid resin in conjunction

page_text: with caoutchouc, gutta percha, and other similar gums for useful purposes
in the arts, and consists, 1st, in subjecting turpentine to the action of
sulphuric acid and applying heat to the mixture until upon cooling the
product assumes the consistency of honey, or if the heat be further
continued the product will be obtained in a brittle or pulverizable con-
dition; 2nd, in the employment of the gelatinous or hard products thus
obtained in conjunction with caoutchouc or other similar gums, or with
gutta percha, so as to produce a material capable of being moulded and
solidified.
Instead of employing turpentine only in conjunction with sulphuric
acid for the production of the acid resin other substances may in part be
substituted, viz., benzole or turpentine, to which about one-fourth part
by weight of resin or asphaltum has been added.
The proportious in which the acid resin is to be employed with the
caoutchouc, gutta percha, or other similar gums will vary according to
the degree of clasticity or hardness it is desired to obtain, but good
results have been obtained by their employment in about equal pro-
portions, or in about the proportion of one part of acid resin to about
20 parts of caoutchouc, gutta percha, or other similar gums. Instead of
mixing the acid resin with caoutchouc it may for certain purposes be
mixed with either linseed or rape oil, and the product thus obtained
when submitted to a temperature of from 230° to 300° Fahrenheit will
become hard. The acid resin may be combined with sulphur, iodine,
bromine, or phosphorus, and in such combination may be employed for
the production of compounds with all the resinous gums so as to
produce a hardened compound or compounds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th October 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the a

page_text: thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR
IMPROVED HARDENING COMPOSITION, AND ITS EMPLOYMENT WITH INDIA-RUBBER,
GUMS, AND OILS," a communication to me from abroad by John Ballou
Newbrough, of the City and State of New York, in the United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby.
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same.
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in aud
by the following statement:-
The said Invention relates to the production of a new substance which
is called acid resin, and to the employment of such acid resin in con-
junction with caoutchouc, gutta percha, and other similar gums for
useful purposes in the arts, and consists, firstly, in subjecting turpentine
to the action of sulphuric or other equivalent acid, and applying heat to
the mixture until upon cooling the product assumes the consistency of
honey, or if the heat be further continued the product will be obtained
in a brittle or pulverizable condition; secondly, in the employment of
the gelatinous or hard products thus obtained in conjunction with,
caoutchouc or other similar gums, or with gutta percha, so as to produce.
a material capable of being moulded and solidified.
Instead of employing turpentine only in conjunction with sulphuric-
or other equivalent acid for the production of the acid resin other
substances may in part be substituted, viz., benzole or turpentine, to
which about one-fourth part by weight of resin or asphaltum has been,
added.

page_text: The proportions in which the acid resin is to be employed with the
caoutchouc, gutta percha, or other similar gums will vary according to
the degree of elasticity or hardness it is desired to obtain, but good
results have been obtained by their employment in about equal pro-
portions, or in about the proportion of one part of acid resin to about
twenty parts of caoutchouc, gutta percha, or other similar gums. Instead
of mixing the acid resin with caoutchouc it may for certain purposes be
mixed with either linseed or rape oil, and the product thus obtained
when submitted to a temperature of from 230° to 300° Fahrenheit will
become hard. The acid resin may be combined with sulphur, iodine,
bromine, or phosphorus, and in such combination may be employed for
the production of compounds with all the resinous gums so as to produce
a hardened compound or compounds.
In practically carrying out this Invention two parts by measure
of turpentine are poured into an open vessel containing one part of
sulphuric acid, and the two ingredients are thoroughly combined or
mixed together. The vessel is then placed in a water bath, and is
heated until its contents boil (care being taken to prevent the ignition
of the turpentine); after the boiling has continued one or two minutes
the apparent effervescence of the liquid will subside. After being
allowed to cool the composition will be of about the consistency of honey.
and ready for use. Should the boiling be continued a little longer time
the product will be brittle and pulverizable. While the turpentine and
acid are combining a light colored vapor and a gas having a strong
sulphurous smell arise, and the boiling should be continued at a low
temperature until the vapor and gas cease to be evolved. Should the
sulphurous gas not be driven off the product or acid resin will act on
gums and oils by the process of dehydrogenation, but when prepared as
above described the acid resin becomes compatible with all the hydro-
carbons. The acid resin will either be gelatinous or hard according to
the length of time during which the acid and turpentine are boiled
together, but whether gelatinous or hard the acid resin has the power
like sulphur, iodine, and bromine of converting caoutchouc or gutta
percha or similar gums into a hard solid substance.
One part by measure of sulphuric acid and four of turpentine will
produce the required acid resin by boiling for a longer time than when
less turpentine is used, and one part by measure of sulphuric acid to two,
of benzole (or turpentine in which one-fourth by weight of common

page_text: rosin or asphaltum has been dissolved) will also produce the acid resin,
but of an inferior quality. Nitric acid and muriatic acid may be
substituted for sulphuric acid, but they are not so good.
In using the acid resin about six ounces of the same are added to one
pound of caoutchouc, and are thoroughly incorporated therewith, and
the mixture is molded or pressed into any desired shape and subjected
to dry heat for about one hour or more, the temperature being about
320° Fahrenhoit. The curing may be effected at 300°, or even 360° of
heat may be used.
One or two ounces of acid resin may be used for each pound of gum
when a very hard product is not required, although even one or more
pounds of the acid resin will combine with one pound of gum if care be
taken to employ a lower degree of heat in the curing process,
Equal parts by weight of the acid resin and linseed or rapeseed oil
form an excellent composition, which hardens on being subjected to a
gradually increasing heat of from 230° to 300° Fahrenheit for about two
hours.
The acid resin will combine in any proportion with sulphur, iodine,
bromine, or phosphorus, and in such combination with all the resinous
gums, and produce a hardened compound,
Having now described and particularly ascertaind the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hercin-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The herein-before described composition consisting of sulphuric
or other equivalent acid combined with benzole, or turpentine, or other
resinous spirit or oil, substantially in the manner described.
Second. A combination of tho above composition with caoutchouc,
gutta percha, or other substance by which a like hardening result may
be attained.
Third. The manufacture of articles of utility or ornament composed
wholly or in part of the compound which is set forth in the second claim
when subjected to heat, as herein-before described.
Fourth. The application and use in preparing the said composition of

page_text: linseed oil, rapeseed oils, or their equivalents, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of
October One thousaud eight hundred and seventy.