An Improved Process for Producing Artificial Marble.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1899-Accepted, 26th May, 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for Producing Artificial Marble.
I, FRITZ HEYDEN, of Moltkestrasse 77, Cöln */Rhein, in the Empire of Ger-
many, Manufacturer, 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: —
The hitherto used processes for producing artificial stone and artificial marble
have always possessed the fault, that objects made thereby where hygroscopic and
attracted moisture which injured them and their use was consequently very
limited.
The process of the present invention and the artificial marble goods and marble
plates produced hereby do not show any of these disadvantages.
By this process not only marble in all colours and forms as plates of any size,
ornaments, figured objects of any kind for mechanical and scientific purposes,
coverings of walls, columns, statues, and the like can be produced but the objects.
thus produced are, in consequence of the nature of the process and moulds used
provided with a natural polish which can be increased by a little smoothing
after the objects are dry. But the greatest advantage lies therein, that the
objects produced by this process do not undergo any alteration in form or shape
after the manufacture is finished.
The process is as follows:
Ground magnesite (as free as possible from chalk) sand, marble-dust, gypsum
or other mineral stuffs and color are mixed in suitable proportions and a solution
of chloride of magnesium is added.
On a polished base covered with a very thin layer of celluloid, marble-like
veined patterns are drawn with the above described mixture which must be thin
flowing. The mixture so applied is left to set. On this foundation layer is
poured a filling composed also of the hereinbefore mentioned materials to the
thickness which the object to be produced is to have. In about 8 hours this mass
has set. This so produced rough product is exposed to a temperature of about
300° C. in order to fix the colors.
Ceresin (mineral or artificial wax) which melts at 84° Celsius is then poured
over the article made of the composition above described which has been heated
to 300° Celsius while the said article is still hot. The article is maintained at
this temperature until the ceresin has penetrated and closed the pores of the com-
position and at the same time the colors come into full prominence. In order
to bring out the lustre peculiar to marble the object produced and prepared as
described receives a second polish with celluloid solution. The object is then
rubbed with a felt cloth saturated in wax and it will then have entirely the
appearance of natural marble.
Suitable proportions for the composition are as follows:
2 parts of ground non-calcareous magnesite, 1 part sand, part marble dust,
1 part gypsum, mineral color according to the color desired (light or dark) and
chloride of magnesium (quantity also variable).
The thus produced artificial marble has the breaking strength of natural

page_text: marble, it can be easily polished and also easily worked but is much cheaper
than natural marble.
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 what
I claim is:-
Process for producing artificial marble consisting in making a mixture of
ground non-calcareous magnesite, sand, marble dust or other mineral stuffs, any
colors and aqueous solution of chloride of magnesium, drawing marble like veined
structures therewith on a polished base covered with a very thin layer of cellu-
loid, then after the foundation layer has nearly set filling the form with a mass
consisting also of the herein before mentioned ingredients; after the so manu-
factured object has set exposing it to a temperature of 300° C. and impregnating
it with ceresine till the fixation of the color is effected and the ceresine has pene-
trated, applying to surface of the object a solution of celluloid for giving a
marble like lustre and increasing the polish by rubbing it with a felt cloth
saturated with wax.
Dated this 1st day of July 1899.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.