INVENTION OF A NEW CEMENT FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1800

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BAPTIST DENIZE, of Paris, now residing in George Street, Portman Square,
Chymist, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Sixteenth day of July, in the fortieth year of His reign, give
and grant unto me, the said John Baptist Denize, His especial licence that I,
the said John Baptist Denize, during the term of years therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my "INVENTION OF A NEW CEMENT FOR
VARIOUS PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso
obliging me, the said John Baptist Denize, under my hand and seal, to cause
a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within one calendar month, after the date of the said recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had) may more fully
and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Baptist Denize, do hereby declare that my said Invention of a New
Cement for Various Purposes is described in manner following, that is to
say:-
Preliminary Observations.-Convinced by repeated proofs that the decay of
mortars or cements in general use occasioned by the alternate or combined
effects of damp and dry weather, was owing chiefly to the bad choice and im-
perfect preparation of the matters they are composed of, that their difficulty
in adhering with any strength to various materials indifferently, but particularly
to wood, to preserve it from rotteness and worms, and to iron to prevent its
growing rusty, was owing to the want of viscosity and clamminess in the fixed
air, and to the water and salts which constitute their glutinous quality; and
persuaded, therefore, that substances of a more fixed and identical nature,
combined and glued together by a viscous body unalterable in itself, and yet
sufficiently unctious and penetrating so as to incorporate easily with the
various objects on which it might be applied, would, on the contrary, form a
composition the more usefull and valuable, as it would then possess qualities
intirely opposite. I applied myself in the research of that object, and after
repeated essays, of which I shall hereafter give an account, as belonging to
this subject, I succeeded in finding out the peculiar nature, proportions, and
preparation of those substances, the exact combination of which ascertains
definitively the utility of my proceedings.
Indication of Fixed Matters.-The materials which I employ in preference
to those of which I shall afterwards give a list, agreeable to my foregoing
observations, are viz' :-
First, all the various species of scorious matters, metallic scums, or dross of
iron, and generally all other kind of remnants or file dust found in forges and
foundries, containing a great deal of metallic substances adulterated by the
effect of combustibles, principally iron, in very great quantities, or, instead of
those various substances, old iron reduced to the same state by calcina-
tion and pulverized by the effect of heat and charcoal, and all kind of
metalic dust and filings more-or-less-reduced to that state, and in general
every other produce of nature or of art in which metallic substances, especially
iron, are found in a state of calcination and chiefly carbonate.
Secondly, all volcanic products, called ashes of volcanos and lava, particu-
larly those which are reduced to the greatest state of attenuation, such as
pozzoland and pumice stone; instead of those volcanic matters one may
almost as effectually imploy ochres and other ferruginous earths, particularly

page_text: yellow oxide of iron (as painters make use of), or reddish brown oxide; when
calcinated by the same degree of heat as that of a potter's kiln, or at least
sufficient to reduce those substances to a state of demi-vitrification, or what
remains after the distillation of acid nitre, by the means of bolar earth cleared
of that acid by a strong calcination and mixed with sulphat of iron equally
dissolved by the same means, and known in commerce by the name of caput
mortuum, of aqua fortis, and of colcothar, or also all ashes produced from the
incineration of vegetables, especially those of pit coal and charcoal, of the
hardest wood; from the identity of nature which subsists particularly between
that species of ashes and the above-mentioned volcanic matters, or those
various terreous and metallic particles, which it has been proved by analizing
that the above-mentioned lava and ashes were composed of, such, for instance,
as silex or quartz, that hard vitrifiable earth, alumine or pure clay, lime or chalky
clay, magnesia, and baryta or terra-ponde-rosa, and manganess, or any other
metallic particle, especially iron; the whole mixed in proportions more or less
conformable to those which constitute the volcanic and vegetable ashes, which
I mentioned before, and calcinated the same as ochres by a degree of heat
sufficient to bring those particles more or less to that state in which they are
by nature found contained in those two kinds of produce. And in general all
other combination, whether natural or artificial, which from the proportions
and identity or analogy of their terreous and metallic particles with those I
have already mentioned could produce the same effects. In this I compre-
hend, therefore, not only the various matters described in the list subjoined to
this Specification, from reason of their being composed of the particles alluded
to, but which I partly exclude from the composition of this cement on account
of the defects which I have found in them; but also all other kinds of com-
positions whatever, of a nature more or less analogous with those I have just
now described.
"
Thirdly, pit coal, of a flat, hard, nature, and that kind particularly which
has a brightness in it like Kendal coal; and
Fourthly, glass or flint stone.
Indication of Glutinous Matters.-First, sublimated sulphur. Secondly,
bitumen made of pit coal, in lieu of it, either of those substances derived
therefrom, classed in the following order, viz:-Petrol mineral pitch, naphta,
asphaltos, or any other modification of pit-coal bitumen, equally proper to
replace said substances. Thirdly, tallow pitch, known also under the name of
pitch rosin, and white rosin, and, in short, every kind of resinous substances,
whether natural or factitious, more or less analogous in its consistence
and effects to the above ones, such as pitch and tar and every other produce

page_text: of that kind. And fourthly, that mucilage produced by the decoction of
lintseed after it has been boiled sufficiently to a degree of consistence of about
twice the thickness of the white of an egg. Instead of that mucilage, that of
any other seed, plant, or animal substance susceptable of producing the same
or the equivalent either of themselves or by the effect of their combination,
or such mucilage as might be made out of various kinds of indigenous or exotic
gums, whether resinous or not, with meal and feculum and other similar sub-
stances. Or one may use also lintseed oil or any other kind of oil or grease of
a disucative and mucilaginous nature, such as is extracted from poppys, nuts,
pinks, &c.. or other vegetable and animal oils or greases that are not by nature
desiccative, but which may be rendered so by their combination with other
substances composed of desiccative principles, such as the various kinds of
gums and wax, spermaceti, oils of turpentine, or those matters from which
they are extracted, oxides and acids, or any other desiccative substance
whatever.
Preparation of Fixed Matters. -In order better to impregnate those fixed
matters with the gluten which is to combine and unite them together, they
must be first prepared as follows, viz:-The dross of iron, the pozzoland and
pumice stone, or the other kinds of metallic scums and volcanic matters,
must be well cleared of all saline, terreous, sulphureous, stony, or other
particles extraneous to them, and reduced to a powder as fine as that of well-
calcinated ashes, and the ashes which might be substituted to the above-men-
tioned volcanic products, or those terreous and metallic particles which I also
indicated as a substitute to these must be calcinated till they are become white,
provided they have not already undergone that operation by fire, then washed
in lye, to extract by these two operations the sulphates and salts which might
be mixed to them, and afterwards well dried and sifted. With regard to pit
coal, glass, or flint stone, they must also be reduced to a very fine powder, like
that of ashes, and sifted afterwards.
Preparation of the Gluten.-Take sublimated sulphur in the proportion of
one eighth, more or less, to the quantity or volume of cement-which-you-intend
to make; mix it one third, more or less, of pit-coal bitumen, then let it
dissolve on a slow gradual fire till it insensibly rises up in momentary bubbles;
stir the mixture during that time, and when it is compleatly dissolved take it
off the fire, and add to it whilst you continue to stir one third, more or less, of
black pitch; then set it on the same slow fire again till it has risen up gradually
as before; take it then once more off the fire, and add one twentieth, more or
less (of the total weight of fixed and gluttinous matters), composed of a
mixture of two equal portions of good tallow, or any other hard grease, and

page_text: of white clear rosin or wax, and mix then the whole on the same fire again'
till it is perfectly dissolved and combined together; or, in order to render the
cement more fluid and thereby more easy of application, to the one eighth (in
volume not in weight) of sublimated sulphur well dissolved with the one third of
pit-coal bitumen, add one third part in volume, also composed of one sixth part
of the above-mentioned rosin or wax, and of one sixth part of good tallow melted
together, and after you have well mixed the whole on the fire add one more
third part in volume, also composed equally of one sixth part of pit-coal
bitumen well mixed together whilst cold, or, instead of this, a same third part
in volume always of linseed oil, or of any other desiccative oil; and last, one
more third part composed of two portions, equal in weight, of black pitch and
of rosin melted together, and after you have equally well mixed those matters
with the rest, and stirred the whole on that slow fire for a while, sufficient to
unite and combine them perfectly together, use this bitumenous composition,
or the one preceeding, in the manner indicated hereafter.
Composition of the Cement.-To either of the two glutinous compositions
above mentioned, made perfectly liquid by fire, add, at several times, in order
the better to combine them together, the following proportions of fixed
matters well mixed and sifted together; viz, three fourths in volume (not in
weight) of dross of iron, one eighth of pozzoland, and one eighth of pumice
stone, or the same quantity of two substances the most analogous to those vol-
canic matters such as I mentioned as substitutes to them, one eighth of pit
coal before named, and one eighth of glass or flint stone. Let the whole
but boil on a fire sufficiently great to keep those materials in a state of fusion,
not so much as to cause the volatile principles to evaporate, which must
be guarded against. Stir now and then, so as to bring the fixed matters
up from the bottom to the superfice, in order to combine them better,
and after three or four hours' boiling for that cement made with the first
kind of glutinous composition, or double that time for that made with the
other kind, make a trial of it by laying some of it on wood, and passing the
trowel with which you stir hard over it, to judge whether and how much it
requires longer to be boiled. One sees that it is done when after being laid
on the wood it becomes hard as it gets cold, and that, tho' still warm, it does
not stick to the hand, with which you must therefore press hard upon. If
one should delay too long to make that trial, the cement might be boiled too
much, which would then take from it its viscosity, and would make it neces-
sary to remedy this by the addition of one twentieth part of the weight of it,
more or less, according to the degree of its adulteration, of either tallow,
bitumen, or pitch; but if the cement does not possess the above properties

page_text: when that trial is made, it must then be boiled, stiring it always, till it has
acquired the same. In general, the more equal the fire is the better will the
cement be, provided the volatile principles do not evaporate; it would on that
account be advisable to boil that composition by the heat resulting from boiling
water, and in an uncovered vessel, for by that means this composition will be
rendered, even should a great proportion of glutinous principles be added
thereto, extremely compact, and as hard as it may be wished for, without
depriving it for all that of those unctuous and penetrating qualities which
render it so valuable.
Manner of Employing the Cement.-It is first broken in small pieces, then
you add to it one forticth part, more or less, of its weight of good tallow or
other hard grease, or, instead of them, not quite a fortieth of black pitch,
asphaltos, rosin, or wax, or only half that proportion of pit-coal bitumen,
mineral pitch, naphta, or some desiccative oil; but if it was intended to
employ that cement (especially that made with less glutinous principles) for
the purpose of joining or cementing more quickly, it would then be proper to
add one half more than the fortieth part of the above-mentioned matters.
The whole is then melted and liquified for a quarter of an hour in an earthern
vessel, or one of cast iron, whilst you continue to stir it, on a slow fire, or, what
would be better, on the heat of boiling water, the same as it is done for glue,
after which you take that composition from the bottom of the vessel, whilst
you still continue to stir, and make the application of it immediately. It is
necessary to observe, that when the cement appears to become too dry, from
its long continuance on the fire, one must then add to it a small portion of the
matters before mentioned, in order to give it that unctuous quality again, and
to keep it so in that state during the time that you make use of it. Expe-
rience will however better teach what proportion of those matters will be
required occasionally, and their choice.
Secondary Methods of Making this Cement.-As the composition of this
cement may be varied by the different choice and proportions of glutinous]
matters relatively to the more or less fixed nature of the others, and by the
boiling it for more or less time, as I have myself ascertained-the-same-by
many experiments (for instance, by the composition and application of that
cement without the use of fire), I reserve to myself the privilege of those
various modifications as being a direct practice of that same theory, and
appertaining necessarily to this Invention. With regard to the various sub-
stances which I used in my different essays, and which I found less proper for
the composition of this cement, they are as follows; viz', charcoal and soot,
and even glass, flint, whether calcinated or not, potters' earth, brick, tile, slate,

page_text: Inrolled the same Fifteenth day of August, in the year above written.