Improved Process of Producing a Substitute for Rubber.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
Improved Process of Producing a Substitute for Rubber.
A communication from WILLIAM EDWARD SHARPS and REUBEN HILTON CHASE,
both of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, Gentlemen.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The object of the present invention is to produce an article which will be
capable of being substituted for and of assimilating with rubber.
The invention consists, essentially in the process of mixing a vegetable oil,
such as linseed oil, with sulphur, heating the mixture, and then in subjecting
the mixture to hydrosaponification. The invention consists further in various
steps in conjunction with those mentioned whereby the object of the invention
is attained.
In carrying out the process my correspondents mix with a vegetable oil such
as linseed oil, about ten per cent. of sulphur, and then subject the mixture to heat
and agitation until a solid mass results. It has been found that a temperature
of about 320° Fahrenheit will produce the best results.
To render the mixture of oil and sulphur a chemical compound it is necessary
to eliminate the glyceril from the glyceride.
To accomplish this, the solid mass produced has added to it a quantity of
water, and then the mixture is heated in a closed vessel to a temperature of
approximately 320° Fahrenheit until the mixture becomes liquid. The liquid
vulcanite is then dehydrated and the resultant product is capable of various uses
such as for coatings for metals to prevent oxidation, and for other uses.
The glyceride in the mixture under this treatment becomes decomposed, and
the sulphur enters into combination with the radical of the oil, producing a
chemical compound of sulphur and the acid of the oil. The glycerine becomes
a waste product and is removed from the compound with the water.
In order to convert the liquid vulcanite into a substance corresponding in
qualities to and of assimilating with rubber, there is added to it 10% more or
less of sulphur and the mixture heated to about 320° Fahrenheit and at the same
time agitated, until a plastic mass produced. The resulting product is elastic,
plastic and corresponds in its qualities to virgin india rubber.
To produce a harder vulcanite than that obtained as above set forth, the com-
pound is again submitted to hydrosaponification, until it becomes semi-liquid,
and then when freed from water, has added to it a quantity of sulphur, say five
per cent. The combination of the sulphur with the compound is effected while
subjecting the mixture to heat and agitation.
The product obtained when all the steps described are carried out is a vul-
canite having the desirable qualities of india rubber,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The process of producing a rubber substitute which consists in mixing a
vegetable oil and sulphur, heating the mixture, and then in subjecting the
mixture to hydro-saponification, substantially as described.
2. The process of producing a rubber substitute which consists in mixing a
vegetable oil and sulphur, heating the mixture until a solid mass is produced,
and then in subjecting the mass to hydro-saponification, substantially as described.
3. The process of producing a rubber substitute which consists in mixing a
vegetable oil and sulphur, heating and agitating the mixture until a solid mass
is produced, and then in heating the mass in a closed vessel in the presence of
water, substantially as described.
4. The process of producing a rubber substitute which consists in mixing a
vegetable oil and sulphur, heating the mixture, then subjecting the mixture to
heat in the presence of water, until it becomes liquid, then dehydrating the
liquid vulcanite and subsequently adding sulphur, and heating the mixture,
substantially as described.
5. The process of producing a rubber, substitute which consists in mixing a
vegetable oil and sulphur, heating the mixture, then subjecting the mixture
to heat in the presence of water until it becomes liquid, then dehydrating the
liquid vulcanite, and subsequently adding sulphur and again heating the mix-
ture, submitting the same to hydro-saponification, and then adding sulphur,
substantially as described.
.
6. The process of producing a rubber substitute, which consists in mixing a
vegetable oil and sulphur, heating the mixture, then subjecting the mixture to
hydro-saponification until it becomes liquid, then dehydrating the liquid vul-
canite, next adding sulphur, again heating the mixture, submitting the mixture
to hydro-saponification, then adding sulphur and finally heating the mixture,
substantially as described.
D
824
1
1000