Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum, Lincrusta, Cere cloth, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum, Lincrusta, Cere
cloth, and the like.
I, GEORG SCHÜLER, of Stettin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, Doctor
of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 improvements in the manufacture of linoleum, lincrusta,
cere-cloth and similar stuffs and has for its object a method of preparing and quickly
drying the same, and the manner of carrying my invention is as follows.
Drying linoleum depends upon the oxidation of the linseed varnish which serves as
agglutinant. In or to accelerate such oxidation the varnish is preferably subjected to
a fore-oxidation by either heating and dispersing it in hot air, or by exposing it to hot
air in the state of thin layers, or by boiling it and forcing air in a finely divided state
through the boiling mass. Moreover, experiments have been made to render such
varnish more appropriate for oxidation by adding certain salts and oxides, as for
instance litharge, sugar of lead, oxide of zinc, sulphate of zinc, vitriol of copper,
manganic peroxide, oxalate of manganese and boracic manganese. That method has
however, not proved effective. I obtain considerably better results by using chemicals
which deliver oxygen in a temperate heat already, as for instance, chloride of lime
and chromic acid. Before laying the mass on any tissue, these chemicals are added,
the mass is then laid on the tissue, and the linoleum or lincrusta or cere-cloth so
obtained is heated to the necessary degree by letting it pass over hot rollers or plates,
or by means of other suitable devices."
The difference between this procedure and the old one is. First-the use of
chemicals directly delivering oxygen instead of converting it. Secondly-the addition
of the oxidating medium to the mass shortly before the latter is used, instead of adding
it to the boiling mass. Thirdly-the possibility of performing quite the process of
oxidation after the mass is laid on its tissue, this being of highly favorable influence
on the quality of the product. A part of the oxidating process may however, be
executed in the Parnacott or Walton apparatus as usual.
Chloride of lime has proved to be the cheapest and most convenient medium and it
is taken in a quantity of from 8 to 10% of the weight of the varnish used; when
employing oxidated varnish, so called "linoxyn," somewhat less ought to be taken,
about 6 to 8%. In the manufacture of linoleum the chloride of lime may either be
ground together with varnish in special color mills, or it may be mixed with the cork
powder. The materials may also be mixed at once in an ordinary mixing machine,
or the chloride of lime, or its equivalent, may be embodied with the fore-mixed
linoleum mass by means of any special kneading machine.
Linoleum mass prepared according to the aforesaid new method may also be
worked in the usual manner, it may be moulded and dyed, and stands a temperature
of from 50 to 60 degrees without being decomposed, and it may be even preserved in
a cold state for some time. After having laid the mass on it is strongly advisable to
execute the process of oxidation as soon as possible, as the tissue will be effected by
the chloride of lime in the course of time. In case a delay of the process of oxidation
cannot be avoided from local causes, the tissue may be protected by laying on first, a
mass containing from 6 to 12% of lime dust, instead of chloride of lime, or containing
an equivalent quantity of magnesia or alumina. The same procedure may be used when
employed the ineans of oxidation hereinafter mentioned.
Fore-rolling is preferably effected by a roller heated to about 50° C., and aft-rolling
instantly thereafter by rollers heated to from 100 to 150° C.; the linoleum thus
prepared is transported immediately to the oxidation chamber, the latter being heated

page_text: to 110 or even more degrees (). A space of time of from ten to thirty minutes is
sufficient for decomposing the chloride of lime, and for rendering the goods saleable,
that time depends on the thickness of the linoleum, and the temperature to which it is
exposed. The procedure is finished when no smell like chloride of lime is perceived.
The influence of the heat begins before a temperature of 100 degrees is reached, a
higher temperature however, is necessary for carrying that process completely through,
this being effected the quicker, the higher the temperature. The quantity of chloride
of lime suitable, depends as much on the quality of the varnish employed, as on the
intrinsic value of the chloride of lime itself, and also the quantity of oxygen contained
in the varnish must be paid attention to, in case so called linoxyn be used. The
number here stated are taken on average.
Linoleum manufactured according the method above described does not differ in
the least from the best sorts known in the market this relating to color and flexibility
as well as to durability.
Other means of oxidation may be employed, such for instance as chromic acid, in
this case the procedure is exactly the same as that before described, requiring merely a
higher temperature, about 120 to 140° C. The quantity of chromic acid is the same
as that of chloride of lime. The procedure itself, however, owing to the hygroscopic
and corrosive nature of the chromic acid, is technically of greater difficulty, and the
product in consequence of its green color, is specially adapted to attain decorative
effects.
Such chemicals as manganous or permanganic salts and nitrate of lead are too slow
in their effect to be of any technical value, and manganese super-oxide or lead-super-
oxide moreover, do not operate at all at the above last named temperature. Superoxides
of calcium and barium, however, are of the highest value, and used in exactly the
same manner as chloride of lime.
Nitric acid may also be employed, when distributed among fossil meel, but the
gases generated thereby are extremely troublesome, and the product very inferior.
The same method as that employed for manufacturing linoleum may be used as well
for lincrusta as for cere-cloth and similar materials, containing oxidated linseed varnish,
may be used as agglutinant. It is, however, indispensably requisite when composing
the respective masses to consider the nature of the chemicals used, for instance, chromic
acid and litharge ought not to be mixed. Finally, good results can be obtained only
when applying varnish that has been sufficiently boiled.
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
In an improved method of and means for manufacturing quick drying linoleum,
lincrustra, cere-cloth and similar stuffs, the use and application of oxidated linseed
varnish as agglutinant, together with chemicals delivering oxygen at a low temperature,
such as chloride of lime, chromic acid, or any superoxide of barium and calcium or their
equivalents incorporated with the respective materials named and afterwards heated in
the manner described substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Dated this 25th dox of Sentember 1890
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant,