IMPROVEMENTS IN LACQUERS AND VARNISHES
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1887
Complete Left, 20th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1888
[Communicated from abroad by JULIA HALE, Widow and sole Executrix of the late
Richard Hale, of Crauford, Union County, New Jersey, United States of
America, and WALTER D. FIELD, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United States of
America, Chemist.]
I, FREDERICK CRANE, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United States of America,
temporarily of 433 Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturing
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LACQUERS
AND VARNISHES to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of spirit varnishes it is usual to employ Methyl Alcohol alone,
or a mixture of grain and wood alcohol (Methyl Alcohol), or a mixture of grain
alcohol and Benzine, Gasoline, Petroleum ether, or similar hydrocarbons, with a
suitable quantity of gum shellac or other gums or resins. Owing however to the
quick drying nature of these solvents, it is impossible to use them upon highly
polished metal work without showing brush marks; and in consequence of the moisture
absorbing properties of the above solvents, the metal to which the lacquer or varnish
is to be applied, must be heated; in order to prevent the alcohols used in the varnish
from absorbing moisture from the air and precipitating the gum.
This invention relates to a new compound composed of Amyl Alcohol or its
derivatives, Methyl Alcohol or its derivatives, Benzine, Petroleum ethers, Gasoline, or
similar hydrocarbons; together with gum shellac, copal, or any other suitable resin or
gum; either alone, or combined with others.
The proportions in which we use these liquids and gums depend upon the use to
which the lacquer or varnish is put. A medium varnish consists of:
Methyl Alcohol, 5 parts by measure.

page_text: Amyl Alcohol, or derivative, 4 parts by measure. Benzine, Petroleum ether or
similar hydrocarbon, 1 part by measure. Gum, as specified, 20 parts by weight.
In some cases we omit the Methyl Alcohol and use: Amyl Alcohol 4 parts by
measure; Benzine or similar hydrocarbon, varying from one to four parts by measure,
Resins or gums, as before.
These proportions may be varied as before stated, so that the examples given
are not to be taken as limiting the invention. By using Amyl Alcohol, the
varnish acquires smooth flowing qualities or properties, and does not become
cloudy.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lacquers and Varnishes.
1, FREDERICK CRANE, Manufacturing Chemist, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United
States of America, and temporarily of 433, Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same may
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
In the manufacture of spirit varnishes, it is usual to employ methyl-alcohol alone or
in mixture with ethyl-alcohol, or a mixture of ethyl-alcohol and benzine, gasoline,
petroleum ether or similar hydro-carbon, with a suitable quantity of shellac or other
gum resins. Owing, however, to the quick drying nature of these solvents, it is
impossible to apply them to bighly polished metal surfaces with a brush without showing
brush marks, and in consequence of the moisture absorbing properties of the above
solvents, the metal to which the lacquer or varnish is to be applied, must be heated, in
order to prevent the absorption of moisture from the air and the precipitation of
gum-resin.
To avoid these drawbacks, I prepare varnish or lacquer from amyl-alcohol, either
pure or in the shape of fusel oil, (that is to say using the term amyl-alcohol both in its
strictly chemical and in its commercial sense) or amyl-acetate, which is a derivative of
amyl-alcohol; benzine, petroleum ether, gasoline or similar hydro-carbons; and shellac,
sandarac, manilla, kauri, mastic, or other soluble resin.
I may employ one or more of the ingredients contained in each of the above classes
and
may add other materials which are not antagonistic to the solvents or menstrua
composing the mixture.
The proportions of these liquids and gum-resins vary according to the purpose for
which the varnish or lacquer is to be employed. A medium varnish may, for instance
be.composed of

page_text: A more quickly drying varnish may be prepared by increasing the quantity of
benzine, up to 4 gallons. As a rule, the solvent power of the liquid mixture
increases with the proportion of alcoholic solvents employed. The quantity_of
methyl-alcohol stated in the first example should not be materially exceeded. The
amyl-compounds impart to the varnish the property of flowing smoothly and prevent
cloudiness.
The following kinds of gum-resins, alone or in combination, have been found suitable
for the manufacture of this varnish, namely shellac, manilla, mastic, elemi, kauri,
sandarac, but other gum-resins which are soluble in the liquids contained in the varnish,
may be employed, the nature and quantity of the resins depending on the purpose for
which the varnish is to be used.
It will, of course, be understood, that the relative quantity of gum-resin
must be increased in proportion to the body or consistency of the varnish
required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare, that I
claim :-
-
1, Resinous varnish or lacquer containing amyl-alcohol or fusel oil or amyl-acetate
or a mixture of these substances, and benzine or similar hydrocarbon, or a mixture of
such hydrocarbons.
2, Resinous varnish or lacquer containing amyl-alcohol or fusel oil or anyl-acetate,
or a mixture of these substances, in combination with benzine or similar hydro-carbon
or a mixture of such hydro-carbons, and with methyl-alcohol or other harmonious
solvents or menstrua of gum-resins.
3, Varnish or lacquer containing gum-resin, amyl-alcohol, and benzine or similar
hydrocarbon, in the proportions substantially as described.
4, Varnish or lacquer containing gum-resin, methyl-alcohol, amyl-acetate or
alcohol, and benzine or similar hydrocarbon, in the proportions substantially as
described.
5, Resinous varnish or lacquer composed of gum-resin dissolved in a menstruum
whose volatility is intermediate between that of ethyl- and amyl-alcohols, substantially
as described.
6, Resinous varnish or lacquer composed in part of a hygroscopic solvent, but
rendered practically non-hygroscopic by intermixture with non-hygroscopic and miscible
liquids, substantially as described.