Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1886.
.Complete Left, 22nd Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887:
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of water and fire-proof paper mill-board
and analogous materials.
These improvements consist in manufacturing the paper mill-board or analogous
material from a pulp or compound prepared as liereinafter described and in treating
the material so manufactured with solution of chloride of zinc and with solution of
resin soap. The paper mill-board or analogous substance manufactured and treated
according to these improvements may be used alone or in combination with a
layer or layers of cork straw or other non conductors of heat or wire gauze such
layer or layers being combined therewith during or subsequent to the process of
manufacture.
The pulp or compound consists chiefly of asbestos which is first treated or
"insulated with a weak solution of chloride of sodium or of glycerine, the latter
being preferred in order to preserve the flexibility and other qualities of the asbestos
during the following processes.
A convenient method of carrying this Invention into practical effect is to impregnate
100 parts of asbestos with from 4 to 6 parts of glycerine. The proportion of glycerine
being small it is necessary in order to secure complete impregnation to mix or dilute
the glycerine with from 5 to 10 parts of water. The union of the glycerine and water
is rendered more complete by dissolving in the water previously to mixing it with the
glycerine from 4 to 6 parts of isinglass or analogous substance.
The impregnated asbestos is then converted to pulp by grinding under rapidly
revolving rollers or by other suitable means during which operation the pulp may be
reduced to the desired consistency by the addition of water. The rapidity of the
motion of the rollers prevents the precipitation of the asbestos and obviates a defect

page_text: hitherto experienced. There is then added to the pulp from 2 to 5 parts of resin soap
dissolved in warm water and thereafter a solution composed of about 6 parts of zinc
chloride in from 15 to 25 parts of water and finally a mixture of about 10 parts of
graphite in about 50 parts of water. The addition of the graphite increases the power
of resistance of the finished product to the action of fire and of water and gives it.an
appearance resembling that of india rubber or gutta percha.
If the finished product is required for the packing of pipe joints or for similar
purposes it may be provided or combined with wire gauze on one or both of its
surfaces or within the body of the material.
The pulp prepared as hereinbefore described may be rolled or otherwise formed into
sheets of the required thickness which are then air dried, immersed in a one per cent.
solution of chloride of zinc and again air dried. Finally the sheets are passed through
a solution of resin soap and water the resin soap having first been dissolved in spirit
and added to the water and thereafter they are air dried for the last time.
Should it be desired to give the sheets a better appearance they may be glazed by
calendering or by being pressed between smooth surfaces.
The paper or mill-board prepared according to these Improvements is capable of
resisting any ordinary degree of heat to which it may be subjected and water has no
effect on it. It also possesses elasticity and other properties adapting it for use as a
packing for the joints of steam pipes and for other purposes where the combined
actions of heat and water have to be resisted. Its lightness strength firmness and
durability combined with its fire and waterproof qualities adapts it for facing, roofing
and other like purposes. For roofing the sheets may be lined with a layer of cork, of
straw or of other non-conductor of heat.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Water and Fire Proof Paper,
Millboard, and similar Materials.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer 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:
This Invention relates to the manufacture of water and fire proof paper, millboard
and analogous materials.
These Improvements consist in manufacturing the paper millboard or analogous
material from a pulp or compound prepared as hereinafter described and in treating
the material so manufactured with solution of chloride of zinc and with solution of
resin soap. The paper, millboard or analogous substance manufactured and treated
according to these improvements may be used alone or in combination with a layer
or layers of cork, straw, or other non-conductors of heat, or of wire-gauze ; such
layer or layers being combined therewith during or subsequent to the process of
manufacture.
The pulp or compound consists chiefly of asbestos, which is first treated or
chemically insulated with a weak solution of chloride of sodium or of glycerine, the
latter being preferred, in order to preserve the flexibility and other qualities of the
asbestos during the following processes.
A convenient method of carrying this Invention into practical effect is to impregnate
100 parts of asbestos with from 4 to 6 parts of glycerine. The proportion of glycerino
being small, it is necessary, in order to secure complete impregnation to mix or dilute
the glycerine with from 5 to 10 parts of water.
The union of the glycerine and water is rendered more complete by dissolving in
the water previously to mixing it with the glycerine, from 4 to 6 parts of isinglass
or analogous substance.
The impregnated asbestos is then converted to pulp by grinding under rapidly
revolving rollers by mixing in a rag engine, or by other suitable means during which
operation the pulp may be reduced to the desired consistency by the addition of
water. The rapidity of the motion of the rollers or other apparatus prevents the
precipitation of the asbestos and thus obviates a defect hitherto experienced. There is
then added to the pulp from 2 to 3 parts of dry resin soap dissolved in hot water and
thereafter, a solution composed of about 6 parts of zinc chloride in from 15 to 25 parts
of water; and finally, a mixture of about 10 parts of graphite in about 50 parts of
water. The addition of the graphite increases the power of resistance of the finished
product to the action of fire and gives it an apparance resembling that of indiarubber
or gutta-percha.

page_text: If the finished product is required for the packing of pipe joints or for similar
purposes it may be provided or combined with wire gauze on one or both of its
surfaces or within the body of the material.
The pulp prepared as hereinbefore described may be rolled or otherwise formed into
sheets of the required thickness which are then air dried, immersed in a one per cent.
solution of chloride of zinc and again air dried. Finally, the sheets are passed
through a solution of resin soap and water containing half to one per cent. of soap, the
resin soap having first been dissolved in spirit and added to the water and thereafter
they are air dried for the last time.
Should it be desired to give the sheets a better appearance, they may be glazed by
calendering or by being pressed between smooth surfaces.
The paper or millboard prepared according to these improvements is capable of
resisting any ordinary degree of heat to which it may be subjected and water has no
effect on it. It also possesses elasticity and other properties adapting it for use as a
packing for the joints of steam pipes and for other purposes where the combined
actions of heat and water have to be resisted. Its lightness, strength, firmness and
durability combined with its fire and water proof qualities adapt it for facing, roofing
and other like purposes. For roofing, the sheets may be lined witli a layer of cork,
of straw, or of other non-conductors of heat.
It will be obvious that some variations in the hereinbefore described processes may
be effected without departing from my Invention and I therefore desire it to be
understood that I do not limit myself to the precise quantities of material employed
nor to the strict sequence or number of the operations involved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me, I declare that what I claim is :-
(1) The manufacture of water and fire proof paper, millboard and similar material
substantially as herein before described.
(2) Fire and water proof paper, millboard and similar material manufactured or
constructed substantially as hereinbefore described.
WILLIAM E. HEYS.