IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING PYROXILINE OR' NITRO-CELLULOSE
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Friedrich Claus at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1881.
CARL FRIEDRICH CLAUS, of Mark Lane, in the City of London. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING PYROXILINE OR'
NITRO-CELLULOSE."
Compositions of various mineral and other matters with pyroxiline (or a solution
thereof), as a cement or binding material are now made and sold under various
names, such as parkesine, celluloid, zylodine, and eburnium. They are often
colored with mineral and other matter to imitate ivory, tortoise shell, coral,
malachite, and similar substances. The pyroxiline or nitro-cellulose used for this
purpose is made by the action of nitric acid, sulphuric and nitric acid, or sulphuric,
nitric, and muriatic acid upon cotton and other vegetable fibre such as wood-pulp,
paper, and similar materials. The process of nitrification varied by different
inanufacturers is in all cases carried to such an extent as to render the pyroxiline
soluble in hydrocarbons such as camphor, alcohol, and either, or other suitable
solvents.
With such solutions of pyroxiline or gun-cotton have been mixed for the above
purposes ground sulphate of baryta, ground flint, ivory, or bone dust, ivory black,
white lead, oxide of zinc, and other mineral substances and coloring matters, and
such mixtures are in the process of manufacture converted into solid materials,
intended to imitate those above specified.
These compositions have been utilized for the manufacture of numerous articles,
but although such articles possess many properties which render them highly
advantageous they have hitherto possessed the property of being highly inflammable
and in some cases explosive.

page_text: Now I have discovered that by mixing with the pyroxiline solution (instead of
or in addition to the mineral matters now used, such as sulphite of baryta, oxide of
zinc, magnesia, or the like) large quantities of basic chloride or oxychloride of zinc,
or of oxychloride of magnesia, or of oxychloride of lead, or of mixtures of these, I
can greatly reduce the inflammability of these compositions.
By the term oxychloride of zinc I understand those compounds of oxide of zinc
and chloride of zinc from which the deliquescent nature of chloride of zinc has
disappeared, and a dry hard solid body, practically non deliquescent, has been formed
similar to that which is known as Sorel's cement.
The same remarks apply to the oxychloride of magnesium, oxide of magnesium,
and chloride of magnesium mixed, from solid, hard, dry non deliquescent masses.
These masses when thoroughly set and dry I pulverize and add to the pyroxiline
mixtures above named in the manner stated in about equal proportions by weight
of the said mass and the pyroxiline, and when the said compositions are formed
into saleable articles they will have lost or nearly lost their inflammability.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Carl Friedrich Claus in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th January 1882.
CARL FRIEDRICH CLAUS, of Mark Lane, in the City of London, Chemist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING PYROXILINE
OR NITRO-CELLULOSE."
Compositions of various mineral and other matters with pyroxiline (or a solution
thereof), as a cement or binding material are now made and sold under various
names, such as parkesine, celluloid, xylodine, and eburnium. They are often
colored with mineral and other matter to imitate ivory, tortoise-shell, coral,
malachite, and similar substances. The pyroxiline or nitro-cellulose used for this
purpose is made by the action of nitric acid, sulphuric and nitric acids, or sulphuric,
nitric, and muriatic acids upon cotton or other vegetable fibre, such as wood-pulp,
paper, and similar materials. The process of nitrification (which is varied by
different manufacturers) is in all cases carried to such an extent as to render the
pyroxiline soluble in hydro-carbons, such as camphor, alcohol, ether, or other
suitable solvents.
With such solutions of pyroxiline or gun cotton it has been usual to mix for the
above purposes ground sulphate of baryta, ground flint, ivory, or bone dust, ivory-
black, white lead, oxide of zinc, and other mineral substances and coloring matters,
and such mixtures are in the process of manufacture converted into solid materials
intended to imitate thoso above specified.
These compositions have been utilized for the manufacture of numerous articles,
but although such articles possess many properties which render them very useful
they have hitherto been highly inflammable and in some cases explosive.
Now I have discovered that by mixing with the pyroxiline solution (instead of
or in addition to the mineral matters now used, such as sulphate of baryta, oxide
of zinc, magnesia, or the like) large quantities of basic chloride of zinc or
oxychloride of zinc, or oxychloride of magnesia, or oxychloride of lead, or of
mixtures of these substances, I can greatly reduce the inflammability of these
compositions.
By the term oxychloride of zinc I understand those compounds of oxide of zinc
and chloride of zinc from which the deliquescent nature of chloride of zinc bas
disappeared and of which a dry hard solid mass or body (practically non:
deliquescent) has been formed similar to that known as Sorel's cement.
The same remarks apply to the oxychloride of magnesium, that is to say, oxide
of magnesium and chloride of magnesium when mixed form solid, hard, dry, non-
deliquescent masses.
These oxychlorides when thoroughly set and dry I pulverize and add to the
pyroxiline mixtures above named in the manner stated in about equal proportions
by weight of the oxychloride and the pyroxiline, and when the said compositions
are formed into saleable articles they will have lost or nearly lost their
inflammability.
It is important in this process that the oxychlorides above specified should be
free from moisture or water before being mixed with the composition, and also
that they should be ground to an impalpable powder. For this purpose I wet
grind the same, using for the liquid such hydro-carbons as benzol, tar oil, alcohol,
ether, or the like, choosing those which have been or are to be employed for
dissolving the pyroxiline; or I use diluted solution of pyroxiline for this purpose.
After separating the powder from the liquid the powder is added to the pyroxiline

page_text: composition which is intended to be rendered non-inflammable. The oxychlorides
may also be heated until all the water they contain is expelled and then ground
to a fine powder.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I claim,—
.The manufacture of improved compositions by the admixture of the oxychloride
of zinc of magnesia, or of lead or a mixture of the same, with pyroxiline or nitro
cellulose in the manner and for the purpose above specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Friedrich Claus, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
CARL FRIEDRICH CLAUS. (L.S.)