Improvements in Treating or Preparing Gutta-percha and Rubber for Various Purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating or Preparing Gutta-percha and Rubber
for Various Purposes.
I, ROBERT HUTCHISON, of Springvale Mills, Cowlairs, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Oil Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention relates to the treatment or preparation of gutta-percha and
rubber by combining lanichol therewith as described in my Patent Specification,
No. 17,739 of 1892, and has for its object to simplify and render more economical
and advantageous the processes used.
By my present invention I combine lanichol with gutta-percha or rubber or a
mixture thereof, by availing of the property which I have discovered to be
possessed by gutta-percha and rubber, of taking up and absorbing lanichol not with-
standing that the lanichol is in a state of admixture with other substances, such as
those with which it is associated in the greases recovered as a bye product in the
manufacture of wools.
In carrying out my invention I place gutta-percha or rubber or a mixture
thereof, preferably in a comminuted state, in a boiler or suitable vessel along with
the wool grease and water. On boiling the grease and gutta-percha or rubber or
mixture thereof become combined. This mixture is next boiled in a solution of
carbonate or preferably caustic alkali, the operation removing saponifiable matters
and leaving the lanichol of the grease combined with the gutta-percha or rubber or
mixture thereof.
According to another modification I first boil the wool grease in a solution
containing slightly more carbonate or preferably caustic alkali than suffices to
saponify any free fatty acids present in the grease. I then dilute the soapy
solution or emulsion thus obtained, and immerse in it the gutta-percha or rubber or
mixture thereof preferably in a comminuted state. On boiling the gutta-percha or
rubber or mixture thereof takes up the lanichol and leaves the other matters in the
liquid.
The gutta-percha or rubber or mixture thereof will take up various proportions
of lauichol, to the extent even of 30 per cent. or more of lanichol in the resulting
compound. Thus, for example, 40 pounds of rubber may have combined with it
the lanichol of 30 pounds of wool grease; and in making such a compound after
saponifying as required the liquid may be diluted with 100 to 160 pounds water
or whatever quantity is found necessary to allow of the easy separation of the
lanichol.
In the improved process not only is there economy in dispensing with the process
of first separating the lanichol from the grease before putting it in contact with the
gutta-percha or rubber or mixture thereof, but there is also a more complete
separation of the lanichol from the wool grease. The improved process has also
the advantage of cleansing the gutta-percha and rubber and removing impurities.
Dated this Twenty-first day of June 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating or Preparing Gutta-percha and Rubber
for Various Purposes.
I, ROBERT HUTCHISON, of Springvale Mills, Cowlairs, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Oil 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, that is to say :-
My said invention relates to the treatment or preparation of gutta-percha and
rubber by combining lanichol therewith as described in my Patent Specification,
No. 17739 of 1892, and has for its object to simplify and render more economical
and advantageous the processes used.
By my present invention I combine lanichol with gutta-percha or rubber or a
mixture thereof, by availing of the property which I have discovered to be
possessed by gutta-percha and rubber, of taking up and absorbing lanichol notwith-
standing that the lanichol is in a state of admixture with other substances, such as
those with which it is associated in the greases recovered as a bye product in the
manufacture of wools.
In carrying out my invention I place gutta-percha or rubber or a mixture
thereof, preferably in a comminuted state, in a boiler or suitable vessel along with
the wool grease and water. On boiling the grease and gutta-percha or rubber or
mixture thereof become combined. This mixture is next boiled in a solution of
carbonate or preferably caustic alkali, the operation removing saponifiable matters
and leaving the lanichol of the grease combined with the gutta-percha or rubber or
mixture thereof.
According to another modification I first boil the wool grease in a solution
containing slightly more carbonate or preferably caustic alkali than suffices to
saponify any free fatty acids present in the grease. I then dilute the soapy
solution or emulsion thus obtained, and immerse in it the gutta-percha or rubber or
mixture thereof preferably in a comminuted state. On boiling the gutta-percha
or rubber or mixture thereof takes up the lanichol and leaves the other matters in
the liquid.
The gutta-percha or rubber or mixture thereof will take up various proportions
of lanichol, to the extent even of 30 per cent. or more of lanichol in the resulting
compound. Thus, for example 40 pounds of rubber may have combined with it
the lanichol of 30 pounds of wool grease; and in making such a compound after
saponifying as required the liquid may be diluted with 100 to 160 pounds water or
whatever quantity is found necessary to allow of the easy separation of the
lanichol.
In the improved process not only is there economy in dispensing with the process
of first separating the lanichol from the grease before putting it in contact with
the gutta-percha or rubber or mixture thereof, but there is also a more complete
separation of the lanichol from the wool grease. The improved process has also
the advantage of cleansing the gutta-percha and rubber and removing impurities.
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 :
Forming compounds of gutta-percha, or of rubber, or of gutta-percha and rubber
with lanichol by boiling a mixture containing the same and an alkali or alkali
carbonate in water substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Ninth day of March 1901
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.