Improvements relating to the Production of Carbon, and to the Utilization of such Carbon in the Manufacture of Pigments, Inks, and the like, and in the Cementation of Metals.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements relating to the Production of Carbon, and to the
Utilization of such Carbon in the Manufacture of Pigments,
Inks, and the like, and in the Cementation of Metals.
I, DR. ADOLPH FRANK, of 80, Leibnitzstrasse, Charlottenburg, in the German
Empire, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
I have discovered that acetylene or mixtures or compounds containing acetylene
are decomposed, with separation of carbon, when they are mixed with oxygen-
compounds of carbon (such as carbonic acid or carbon monoxide) or with gases
containing these compounds, and the resultant mixture is conducted through
heated tubes or subjected under pressure to the action of the electric spark.
Under these conditions, the gases react on each other according to the equations:
=
C₂H₂ + CO
2C₂H + CO₂
C₂H, +300
C₂H₂+ CO₂ =
=
=
H₂O + 3C
2H₂O + 5C
H₂O + CO2 + 4C
H₂O + CO + 2C.
Instead of acetylene, metallic compounds thereof can also be advantageously
employed, more especially the carbides of the alkaline earths or other carbides,
for example, aluminium carbide or mixtures containing these compounds. Con-
sequently "carbide," using the word quite generally, (under which term however,
both hydrogen carbide, such as acetylene, as well also as metallic carbides, is
to be here understood) is capable of being employed; if, for example, carbon
monoxide, carbonic acid or gases containing these compounds, be conducted over
calcium carbide at an elevated temperature, separation of carbon is set up, and
mainly in accordance with the reactions,
The carbon separates in this reaction in proportion to the temperature employed
and to the duration of the action, in a state of more or less fine subdivision or in
a crystalline form. As an example may be mentioned the manufacture of very
finely divided carbon from calcium carbide. In a retort, tube or other suitable
apparatus, finely divided calcium carbide is heated to a temperature of from 200
to 250 degrees Centigrade and subjected to the action of carbon monoxide for
such a time that absorption no longer takes place. The reaction-mass obtained
is elutriated or washed with water and the elutriated or washed mass, when
necessary, freed from adhering lime by treatment with suitable solvents.

page_text: The carbon-powder so obtained is free from all tarry constituents and is so
finely divided that it can be advantageously employed in the manufacture of the
best printing ink and is a substitute for Chinese or
"Indian ink.
The carbon obtained by my process may also be advantageously employed for
the cementing or converting of metals, particularly of iron. In this cementation
process, the obtaining of the carbon and the cementation are preferably combined
by allowing the separation of carbon above mentioned to take place in presence
of the metal to be cemented. For this purpose, the metal to be cemented is
brought in a suitable manner into contact with carbide (for example, metallic
carbides), and carbon monoxide, carbonic acid or a gaseous mixture containing
these compounds is conducted over the same as above mentioned, or gaseous
mixtures which contain acetylene (hydrogen carbide) and carbon monoxide or
carbonic acid, are allowed to act directly on the metals. This preferably takes
place at the usual temperature for cementing.
Dated this 12th day of June 1899
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements relating to the Production of Carbon, and to the
Utilization of such Carbon in the Manufacture of Pigments,
Inks, and the like, and in the Cementation of Metals.
I, DR. ADOLPH FRANK, of 80, Leibnitzstrasse, Charlottenburg, in the German
Empire, Chemist, 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:-
I have discovered that acetylene or mixtures or compounds containing acetylene
are decomposed, with separation of carbon, when they are mixed with oxygen
compounds of carbon (such as carbonic acid or carbon monoxide) or with gases
containing these compounds, and the resultant mixture is conducted through
heated tubes or subjected under pressure to the action of the electric spark.
Under these conditions, the gases react on each other according to the equations.
-
CH, CO H₂O + 3C
20H, CO, 2H₂O + 50
CH3COHO + CO₂ + 4C
CH, + CO, = I0 +00^+ 20.
Acetylene can be replaced by other hydrocarbides or hydrocarbons. The pro-
cess itself remains essentially the same. In using heavy hydrocarbides or hydro-
carbons the same may be converted into vapours and mixed in such gaseous con-
dition under pressure with oxygen compounds of carbon (e.g. carbon monoxide or
carbon dioxide or gases containing the same), such mixtures being subjected to
the action of electric sparks. The action may be accelerated by the presence of
suitable substances acting by contact or by their presence.
Instead of hydrocarbides (which term is to be understood to include all com-
pounds of the two elements hydrogen and carbon, for example, acetylene or
hydrocarbons), corresponding metallic compounds or metal substitution-products

page_text: Hercore com
auds which are to be considered as Dyurocarbides or nyuru
carbons, in which metal is substituted for hydrogen), especially such products,
can also be advantageously employed in which metals of the alkaline earths or
other metals are substituted for hydrogen of the said hydrocarbides or hydro-
carbons, e.g. aluminium carbide or mixtures containing these compounds. Con-
sequently carbide," using the word generally (under which term however both
hydrogencarbides or hydrocarbides as described, such as acetylene, as well also
as metallic carbides, is to be here understood) is capable of being employed. If
for example, carbon monoxide, carbonic acid or gases containing these compounds,
be conducted over calcium carbide at an elevated temperature, separation of carbon
is set up, and mainly in accordance with the reactions:
CaC, + CO = CaO + 3C
CaC + 3CO = CaCO3 + 4C
2Cač₂ + CO₂
=
2CaO + 5C
2CaC, + 300, = 2CaCO, + 50.
The carbon separates in this reaction, in proportion to the temperature employed
and to the duration of the action, in a state of more or less fine subdivision or
in a crystalline form. As an example, the manufacture of very finely divided
carbon from calcium carbide may be mentioned. In a retort, tube, or other
suitable apparatus, finely divided calcium carbide is heated to a temperature of
from 200 to 250 degrees Centigrade and subjected to the action of carbon monoxide
for such a time that absorption no longer takes place.
The reaction-mass obtained is elutriated or washed with water and the elutri-
ated or washed mass, when necessary, freed from adhering lime by treatment
with suitable solvents.
The carbon powder so obtained is free from all tarry constituents and is so
finely divided that it can be advantageously employed in the manufacture of the
best printing ink and is a substitute for Chinese or "Indian" ink.
If it is desired to obtain the carbon in a more dense or even crystalline form
(similar or like to graphite), it is only necessary to employ a sufficiently elevated
temperature and sufficient pressure for the described operation of splitting off the
carbon. The degree of the temperature as well as of the pressure is influenced
or determined by the nature of the carbides employed. For example, if calcium
carbide is used, a red-heat (500-600 degrees C.) is sufficient, or a temperature
of about 400 degrees C. together with a pressure of about 1 atmospheres, or a
temperature of about 350 degrees C. together with a pressure of about 3 atmos-
pheres is sufficient to obtain the desired result.
The carbon obtained by my process may also be advantageously employed
for the cementing or converting of metals, particularly of iron. In this cementa-
tion process, the obtaining of the carbon and the cementation are preferably com-
bined by allowing the separation of carbon above mentioned to take place in pre-
sence of the metal to be cemented. For this purpose, the metal to be cemented is
brought in a suitable manner into contact with carbide (for example, metallic
carbides), and carbon monoxides, carbonic acid or a gaseous mixture containing
these compounds is conducted over the same as above mentioned or gaseous
mixtures which contain acetylene (hydrogen carbide) and carbon monoxide or
carbonic acid, are allowed to act directly on the metals. This preferably takes
place at the usual temperature for cementing.
Also another metal than iron may be subjected to the said cementation_or
incorporation of carbon split off in the process above described. If it is intended
to split off the carbon in the presence e.g. of silver, the process described for the
example of iron may be performed in such manner that the desired articles of
silver are covered with powder of carbide and then subjected to the action of e.g.
carbon monoxide at about 150° to 200° (': the carbon splitting off passes into
the silver and imparts to it the appearance of so-called oxidized silver,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained and nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
-
1. The manufacture of carbon by the action, at an elevated temperature, of
oxygen compounds of carbon (such as carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide), or
gases containing these compounds, on carbide (such as hydrocarbide or hydro-
carbon e.g. acetylene and metallic carbide) or mixtures containing such carbide,
substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.
2. The process as claimed in Claim 1 performed in the presence of metals for
the purpose of incorporating into these metals the carbon which is split off in
the said process, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10t11
1 1000
D. YOUNG & Co..
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.