THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP, MILLBOARDS, FACING CLOTH FOR BOOK COVERS, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALEXANDER WILKINSON of 166 Fleet Street in the city of London Civil
"IMPROVEMENTS
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP, MILLBOARDS, FACING CLOTH FOR BOOK COVERS,
AND THE LIKE" to be as follows:-
For the purpose of my invention I take one hundred weight of peat, Hay, spent
hops, brewers grains or other fibrous body and submerge them in a tank containing
sufficient hot water heated up to (150 degrees). Into the tank I put one pound of
potassium, twelve pounds of Common Soda, four pounds of Potash, six pounds of
Sulphuric acid, three pounds of ammonia one pound of brimstone, this is allowed
to boil two or three hours to separate the pith and other soluble matter away from
the fibre, after this the fibre is taken from the tank and washed in a warm liquid
containing a quantity of consolidated ammonia and acetic acid, tungstate of soda,
and soap about equal parts in weight these ingredients are amalgamated. This
liquid is agitated for about two or three hours to open the pores of the fibre which
may now be readily removed and boiled for about one hour in a strong alkuli of
soap, soda, sulphur and ammonia, (parts being about equal weight,) previous to
being bleached.
For which purpose I take about five pounds of ground sulphur and add two
pounds of bisulphide of carbon together with four ounces of ground consolidated
ammonia this mass being well stirred together and taken to the bleaching stove
the peat or vegetable fibre being upon shelves around the stove.
The stove is fitted with airtight doors to keep it thoroughly airtight a small
blast of cold air being supplied from the bottom of the stove from the outside in
order to keep the bleaching material in a burning condition after which the
vapours may be readily thrown off when the fibres have become a brilliant pearl
white.
I do not confine myself to this method of bleaching the fibre as I in some cases
use a liquid bleach composed of fourteen pounds of chloride of lime, one pound of
common soda, four ounces of sulphur, two ounces of potassium and four ounces of
ammonia these ingredients are placed into a copper (containing about 150 gallons)
while in a boiling state until as much as possible have become dissolved the liquid
will then be found in a "pinky" condition.

page_text: It is run through a filter to take out the earthy substance that may be left in the
chlorine liquor or the chemicals that are not broken down the liquor may then be
thrown upon the fibre or fibrous material and remain until a brilliant white bleach
is produced.
The pulp thus made is fit for the manufacture of Millboard, or paper pulp either
alone or mixed with waste flock or cotton fannings.
This pulp may be dyed, any shade or colour.
A suitable quantity of china clay, size, blood, albumen or any other adhesive
substance can be added.
The pulp can be spread on to a thin texture of calico or canvas the texture being
prepared as follows I take an ordinary pair of rollers and at the back of them I place
a cylinder containing liquid of bisulphite of carbon and indiarubber kept agitated,
which substance can flow and become spread on the canvas while moving over the
bed plate of the machine and be then levelled by the rollers.
Book cloth or covers may be thus produced with a fabric on one side and a paste
board on the other of any shade or colour and waterproof.
When ornamental designs or figured surfaces are to be produced or embodied
therein figured moulds or dies or figured rollers may be used..
The waterproof book covers or cloths prepared as above described may be further
protected by a solution of india rubber bisulphide of carbon, shellac and benzoline
collace, (rectified petroleum) in which in some cases small portion of blood albumen
may be added.
This solution when filtered can be painted or brushed on as a protection to gold
and all kinds of ornamental' designs from the atmosphere and from wet.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ALEXANDER WILKINSON of 166 Fleet Street in the city of London, Civil'
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP, MILLBOARDS, FACING CLOTH FOR BOOK COVERS,
AND THE LIKE" and in what manner the same, is to be performed to be
particularly described and' ascertained in and by the following statement:-
For the purpose of my invention I take one hundred weight of peat, hay, spent
hops; brewers grains, waste cane, or other fibrous body and submerge them in a
tank containing sufficient hot water heated up to (150 degrees). Into the tank
I put one pound of potassium, twelve pounds of common soda, four pounds of
potash, six pounds of sulphuric acid, three pounds of ammonia, one pound of
brimstone, this is allowed to boil for two or three hours to separate the pith and
other soluble matter away from the fibre, after this, the fibre is taken from the
tank and washed in a warm liquid containing a quantity of consolidated ammonia
and acetic acid, tungstate of soda, and soap, about equal parts in weight, these
ingredients are amalgamated, and the liquid is agitated for about two or three
hours, to open the pores of the fibre, which may now be readily removed and
boiled for about one hour in a strong alkali of soap, soda, sulphur, and ammonia,
parts being about equal weight,. previous to being bleached. For this purpose
I take about five pounds of ground sulphur and add two pounds of bisulphide of
carbon together with four ounces of ground consolidated ammonia, this mass being
well stirred together and taken to the bleaching stove, the peat or vegetable fibre
being upon shelves around the stove.
The stove is fitted with airtight doors to keep it thoroughly air tight a small
blast of cold air being supplied from the bottom of the stove from the outside, in
order to keep the bleaching material in a burning condition; after which the
vapours may be readily thrown off, when the fibres have become a brilliant pearl
white.
I do not confine myself to this method of bleaching the fibre, as I, in some
cases use a liquid bleach composed of fourteen pounds of chloride of lime, one
pound of common soda, four ounces of sulphur, two ounces of potassium, two
ounces of sugar of lead, and four ounces of ammonia, these ingredients are placed
into a copper containing about 150 gallons, while it is in a boiling state, until as
much as possible have become dissolved the liquid will then be found in a "pinky"
condition.
It is run through a filter to take out the earthy substance that may be left in
the chlorine liquor or the chemicals that are not "broken down," the liquor may
then be thrown upon the fibre or fibrous material and remain until a brilliant white
bleach is produced.
The pulp thus made is fit for the manufacture of millboard or paper pulp either
alone or mixed with waste flock or cotton fannings.
This pulp may be dyed any shade or colour. A suitable quantity of china clay,
size, blood, albumen or any other adhesive substance can be added,

page_text: The pulp can be spread on to a thin texture of calico or canvas, the texture being
prepared as follows: I take an ordinary pair of rollers and at the back of them
I place a cylinder containing the canvas or calico. Above the machine is a box
containing liquid of bisulphide of carbon and india rubber kept agitated, which
substance can flow and be spread on the canvas while moving over the bed plate
of the machine and be then levelled by the rollers.
Both cloth or covers may be thus produced with a fabric on one side and a paste
board on the other of any shade or colour and waterproof.
When ornamental designs or figured surfaces are to be produced or embodied
therein figured moulds or dies or figured rollers may be used. The waterproof
floorcloth, book covers, or cloths prepared as above described may be further
protected by a solution of India rubber, bisulphide of carbon, shellac, and benzoline
collace, (rectified petroleum) in which in some cases a small portion of blood
albumen may be added. This solution when filtered can be painted or brushed on
as a protection (to gold and all kinds of ornamental designs) from the atmosphere
and from wet.
Having now particularly. described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The improved means or method of treating vegetable fibre for the manufacture
of Pulp, Millboards, Facing Cloth for Book Covers, and the like as hereinbefore
described.