Improvements in the Manufacture of Waterproof Cloth, Felt, Board, Paper for Roofing, Packing, and Insulating Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Waterproof Cloth, Felt,
Board, Paper for Roofing, Packing, and Insulating Purposes.
I JEAN EMILE AUGUSTE PIERRET of Vilvorde in the Kingdom of Belgium
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers more particularly to the manufacture of impermeable
roofing cloth or canvass and consists of an improved waterproofing compound and
in the mode and means of applying the same.
The waterproofing compound is obtained by melting and mixing together a
variable quantity of the residual matter obtained from the distilling and refining
of petroleum, with natural dry bitumen, resin or colophony and Spanish white or
pulverized Lime-Stone.
As the refining of petroleum is accomplished by means of Sulphuric acid which
remains in the residue the latter is first neutralized by an excess of quick lime,
thereby forming a Sulphate of Lime which is left in the residue. This latter matter
forms on account of its special properties the basis of my said improved water-
proofing composition; but as it is soft it is rendered more compact by fusing it
together with bitumen or asphaltum and resin or any other suitable resinous or
fatty matter which may resist a certain temperature.
The introduction of Spanish white is preferable although not absolutely necessary
and may be replaced by any other calcareous or earthy matter, metal oxide, lime,
china, clay, coal dust or lignite in a pulverised condition.
The preparation and application of the waterproofing compound is accomplished
in a pan or boiler overheaded by an apparatus supporting two or more scrapers or
knives. The fusible matters of the compound are first introduced and melted and
after complete dissolution the Spanish white is incorporated and well mixed to a
homogeneous mass. A piece of cloth or canvass of jute for instance is then slowly
passed through and drawn upwards against the scrapers for taking off the surplus
of the waterproof compound. The cloth subsequently passes under a sand box
provided with a suitable passage for the escape of the sand which rapidly glides
n

page_text: over an inclined plane below and falls onto the cloth thereby covering it slightly
and uniformly with sand. The cloth finally passes over one or more cooling
cylinders pressing at the same time the sand onto the surface of the cloth which
is now ready for use.
Instead of sand, cement, silex or any other pulverised matter may be used, or
this latter operation may be suppressed.
Instead of cloth of jute, any other kind of fabric may be employed as well as
other articles or substances such as paper, pasteboard, felt and the like which are
rendered waterproof in the same manner and may be used for roofing, packing and
insulating purposes,

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Waterproof Cloth, Felt,
Board, Paper for Roofing, Packing, and Insulating Purposes.
I JEAN EMILE AUGUSTE PIERRET of Vilvorde in the Kingdom of Belgium
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:-
This invention refers more particularly to the manufacture of impermeable
roofing cloth or canvas and consists in an improved waterproofing compound and
in the mode and means of applying the same.
Hitherto waterproof varnishes or coatings have generally been made from the
residues of vegetable origin, or kinds of pitch obtained from different industries,
or from mineral pitch obtained by the distilling of coal tar which however are
brittle productions rendered more plastic by adding to them a certain quantity of
the same tar. All these preparations contain essential oils of easy volatilization so
that the cloth or any other support coated with them, offers the guarantees of
impermeability only for a short time after application. Indeed by gradually
eliminating through the action of the sun, the volatile matters entering in the
chemical composition of the coating the latter becomes more and more brittle to the
point of easily abandoning its support. Therefore it was necessary to strengthen
said coating by a varnish of thickened tar and this costly operation did not always
suffice to remedy the decay already commenced, nor to produce a more than
éphemeral amelioration since the same improper additional matter being used over
again the same fatal effect must inevitably be reproduced.
In order to obtain a good impermeable roofing requiring no maintenance and
preventing nevertheless sound guarantees of durability it would be necessary to
renounce the use of any matter subject to dessiccation and brittleness and to find
one of a stability sufficient to prevent its composition from being modified by the
action of the air, the sun, or the rain. It would be necessary also that this new
substance should preserve about the same plastic consistency under the different
temperatures to which it is subjected that it be but slightly dilatable and of a
sufficiently moderate price to be employed in competition with other kinds of
roofing.
These conditions are fulfilled in the present waterproofing composition, which is
obtained by melting and mixing together at a temperature of 110 to 150 degrees
Centigrade the following substances:-
Neutralized residual matter of Petroleum - 1000 pounds
Natural dry bitumen
Resin or colophony
240
"
160
n

page_text: By neutralized residual matter of petroleum is understood the remaining pro-
ducts resulting from the distilling and refining of this oil and from its treatment
with sulphuric acid. These tar like residues are thick and by neutralising the
quantity of acid they contain, by an excess of quicklime, a sulphate of lime is
formed which is left in them and thickens them, so as to form a blackish soft and
very adherent and homogeneous mass. It is this latter substance non-decomposable
up to a temperature of about 150 degrees Centigrade which forms on account of its
special qualities the basis of the waterproofing composition. Its dessiccation is not
to be feared and by utilising a residue which has become burdensome at the
refinery works of petroleum and almost without any use up to the present, it
receives a new and important industrial destination. But said residues are soft
and therefore it is necessary to render them more compact by fusing them
together with bitumen or asphaltum and resin or any other suitable resinous or
fatty matter which may resist a certain temperature thus transforming them into
a mastic and rendering them more suitable for the use to which they are
destined without being prejudicial to their other qualities of impermeability and
unalterability.
It will be understood that the bitumen or asphaltum having with petroleum a
common origin and approaching each other in their compositions, it partakes with
the residues of petroleum, of their valuable properties. Therefore by mixing
these residues with bitumen the unalterability of the compound will not be changed
and the presence of the small quantity of resin also introduced is justified by the
tenacity and elasticity which it communicates to it by still contributing to give it
the desired consistency. As to the Spanish white incorporated in the compound in
a sufficiently large quantity it is intended to render the same less inflammable
by still reducing its fusibility and diminishing sensibly its first cost without
influencing its waterproofing qualities. Therefore the use of Spanish white is
preferable although not absolutely necessary and may be replaced by any other
calcareous or earthy matter, metal oxide, lime, china clay, coal dust, or lignite in a
pulverised condition and I reserve to myself the right of employing these matters
either alone or mixed with each other in any proportions, in order to communicate
to the residues of petroleum the required degree of plasticity fusibility impermea-
bility and combustibility for each special case of application. I also reserve to
myself the right of employing the residual matter of petroleum either as obtained
in the refineries of petroleum, or modified by the action of heat or by the adjunc-
tion of quicklime, as well as the right of replacing totally or partially the quantities
of bitumen and resin indicated above in my compound by any other suitable fatty
or resinous matter.
These modifications are justified by the necessity of rendering the compound
more or less fatty or fusible according as the articles to be coated or impregnated
are destined for cold and damp or hot countries.
The preparation and application of the waterproofing compound is accomplished
in a pan or boiler overheaded by an apparatus supporting two or more scrapers or
knives placed longitudinally. The fusible matters of the compound are first
introduced and melted at a temperature not reaching 150 degrees Centigrade
and after complete fusion the pulverised Spanish white is incorporated and well
mixed to a homogeneous mass. A piece of cloth or canvass, for example of jute, is
then slowly passed through and drawn upwards through the said scrapers or
knives in order to remove the surplus of the waterproof coating. The cloth sub-
sequently passes under a sand box provided with a suitable passage situate parallel
to the plane of the cloth for the escape of sand which rapidly falls on and glides
from an inclined plane below down upon the cloth and covers it slightly and
uniformly throughout its breadth the sand adhering to the hot and consequently
viscous coating." Thus charged the cloth continues its upward motion and passes
over three or any other number of cylinders kept cool by a circulation of cold
water therein for the purpose of cooling the impregnated cloth and pressing at the

page_text: same time the sand into the waterproof coating the cloth being then rolled on
wooden beams or rolls in lengths of 15 to 20 yards ready for use.
Instead of sand, cement, silex or any other pulverised earthy matter may be used
and this latter operation may be effected on both sides of the cloth or entirely
dispensed with, since it is only intended to prevent the cloth from adhering together
when being rolled up.
Also in lieu of jute cloth any other kind of tissue may be used as well as other
fabrics such as paper pasteboard felt and the like which are rendered waterproof
in the same manner and may be used for roofing, packing and insulating purposes
as for instance for insulating foundations and damp walls.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The manufacture of a waterproof compound from the residual matters
obtained from the distilling or refining of petroleum and from its treatment with
acids for the purpose of rendering impermeable any kind of cloth, or canvass,
pasteboard, felt, paper troughs and the like, said residues being used either directly
and pure, or combined with other substances capable of modifying their appearance,
consistency and physical or chemical properties.
2. The combination of said residues with quicklime for the purpose of neutra-
lising and thickening the same then with fatty or resinous substances for the
purpose of modifying their consistency and with pulverised earthy bodies such as
chalk cement, metal oxides, lime-stone and the like for the purpose of diminishing
their inflammability and of rendering them less fusible.
3. The waterproof compound obtained by mixing after fusion the neutralised
residual matter of petroleum with any kind of bitumen or resin and with Spanish
white or pulverised lime-stone substantially in the proportions indicated above.
4. Articles rendered impermeable by said waterproof compound.
5. The special arrangement described for coating or impregnating cloth, canvass,
paper or other articles with the neutralised residues of petroleum pure or combined
as well as the mode of and apparatus for applying or impressing into the coated
surface or surfaces a layer of sand or any other pulverized earthy matter substan-
tially as specified.