IMPROVEMENTS IN PAINTS OR COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING SHIPS' BOTTOMS AND OTHER SUB- MERGED SURFACES TO PREVENT FOULING, AND FOR PRESERVING IRON AND WOOD AND OTHER MATTER FROM THE EFFECT OF EXPOSURE TO SALT WATER, DAMP, OR ATMOSPHERIC INFLUENCES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Bernard Rodyk, of Number 7, Mincing Lane,
in the City of London, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PAINTS OR COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING SHIPS' BOTTOMS AND OTHER SUB-
MERGED SURFACES TO PREVENT FOULING, AND FOR PRESERVING IRON AND
WOOD AND OTHER MATTER FROM THE EFFECT OF EXPOSURE TO SALT
WATER, DAMP, OR ATMOSPHERIC INFLUENCES." A communication from
abroad by Nicolas Belfield Dennys, of Singapore, in the Straits Settlements,
Magistrate of Police.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Bernard Rodyk at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th August 1881.
"
ARTHUR BERNARD RODYK, of Number 7, Mincing Lane, in the City of London,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN PAINTS OR COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING SHIPS'
BOTTOMS AND OTHER SUBMERGED SURFACES TO PREVENT FOULING, AND FOR
PRESERVING IRON AND WOOD AND OTHER MATTER FROM THE EFFECT OF
EXPOSURE TO SALT WATER, DAMP, OR ATMOSPHERIC INFLUENCES." [A communi-
cation from abroad by Nicolas Belfield Dennys, of Singapore, in the Straits
Settlements, Magistrate of Police.]
This Invention relates to an improved paint or composition to be applied to
ships' bottoms and other submerged surfaces, for the purpose of preventing fouling
from the adhesion of barnacles or plants, or from other causes, and which is also
applicable to the preservation of iron, wood, and other matter from the effect of
exposure to salt water, damp, or atmospheric influences.
I take ordinary zinc and suspend it in a semi saturated solution of crystals of
sulphate of copper, in the proportion of one hundred weight of zinc to one hundred
weight and a half of sulphate of copper. I collect the resulting deposit and dry,
ת

page_text: pulverize, sift, and grind the same until it assumes the form of a fine greyish
powder suitable for forming a paint. To the powder thus obtained I add the juice
of the tree known as "eloeococcus vernicia," which is sold by the Chinese under
the name of "vah-ni-shi ;" and I add this juice to the powder in sufficient quantity
to make a fair working paint, and the paint thus formed may then be applied in
any ordinary way to the ships' bottoms, or other surfaces to be coated.
I have above stated the proportion of zinc and sulphate of copper which I have
found to yield the best results, but these proportions may be varied.
The degree of saturation of the solution of sulphate of copper may be also
varied, but the less saturated the solution the slower will be the formation of the
deposit.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Bernard Rodyk in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th February 1882.
ARTHUR BERNARD RODYK, of Number 7, Mincing Lane, in the City of London,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAINTS OR COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING SHIPS'
BOTTOMS AND OTHER SUBMERGED SURFACES TO PREVENT FOULING, AND FOR
PRESERVING IRON AND WOOD AND OTHER MATTER FROM THE EFFECT OF
EXPOSURE TO SALT WATER, DAMP, OR ATMOSPHERIC INFLUENCES." A communi-
cation from abroad by Nicolas Belfield Dennys, of Singapore, in the Straits
Settlements, Magistrate of Police.
This Invention relates to an improved paint or composition or compound
intended to be applied to ships' bottoms and other submerged surfaces, for the
purpose of preventing fouling from the adhesion of barnacles or plants, or from
other causes, and which is also applicable to the preservation of iron and wood, and
other matter from the effect of exposure to salt water, damp, or atmospheric
influences.
I take ordinary zinc and suspend it in a semi saturated solution of crystals of
sulphate of copper, in the proportion of about one hundred weight of zinc to one
hundred weight and a half of sulphate of copper. I collect the resulting deposit,
and dry, and pulverize, and sift, and grind the same until it assumes the form of a
fine greyish powder suitable for forming a paint. To the powder thus obtained
I add a certain material well known in Chinese and other eastern ports, and which
is prepared by the Chinese as I believe from the juice of the tree known as
eloeococcus vernicia, and is commonly sold by them under the name of vah-ni-shi,
and is well known under that name, and also under the name "Chinese-varnish,"
as an article of commerce by persons or traders dealing with Chinese firms. The
method of preparing this vah-ni-shi or Chinese varnish ordinarily adopted is to the
best of my belief as follows:-The above mentioned juice is heated to a point
slightly below the boiling point, and then mixed with spirits of wine, or other
equivalent spirits, and when cooled it forms vah-ni-shi or Chinese varnish. Other
equivalent methods of preparing the vah-ni-shi or Chinese varnish may be adopted.
I add this vah-ni-shi or Chinese varnish to the powder aforesaid in sufficient
quantity to make a fair working paint, and the paint thus formed may then be
applied in any ordinary way to the ships' bottom or other surface to be coated.
I have above stated the proportions of zinc and sulphate of copper which I have
found to yield the best results; but these proportions may be varied.
The degree
of saturation of the solution of sulphate of copper may be also varied, but the less
saturated the solution the slower will be the formation of the above mentioned
resulting deposit. In cases in which I desire to hasten the formation of the above
mentioned resulting deposit, I add about one gallon more or less of sulphuric acid
to the above-mentioned solution; but this is only essential as a matter of hastening
the process. For the purpose of increasing the bulk of the outturn, I also heat
zinc to redness and immerse in it pieces of iron. This is kept stirred until cooled,
when the zinc readily pulverizes and may be used as the "metallic zinc," which
forms one of the results of the first mentioned process. A similar result is obtained
by stirring melted zinc in an iron vessel heated to just short of redness, and
pulverizing the friable outturn. In either case the mixture of the powdered zinc
so obtained with the resulting deposit before described, increases its bulk without
deteriorating its qualities to any material extent, provided the proportion of zinc
powder does not exceed one third of the whole.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and.in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I declare that I clain,-
The manufacture and use of a paint or composition, substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Bernard Rodyk, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of February, in the year of
our Lord 1882..
Witness to the signature of
Arthur B. Rodyk,
CHA³, I COLE,
Solicitor,
7, Mincing Lane, E.C.
ARTHUR B. RODYK. (L.S.)