Improvements in Pyroxyline Compounds and Varnishes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1887
Complete Left, 7th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 20th Apr., 1888
[Communicated from abroad by WALTER D. FIELD, Chemist, of Short Hills, New
Jersey, United States of America.]
Improvements in Pyroxyline Compounds and Varnishes.
I, FREDERICK CRANE, Manufacturing Chemist, of Shorthills, New Jersey, United
States of America, temporarily of 433, Strand, London, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more especially to the solvents used in the manufacture of
pyroxyline varnish and other pyroxyline compounds.
My correspondent has discovered that propyl and butyl-acetate and mixtures of
these acetates, are good solvents for pyroxyline and possess advantages over other
solvents generally used for the manufacture of pyroxyline varnish.
These acetates may be employed either alone or in mixture with known solvents or
vehicles of pyroxyline, which are not antagonistic such as benzine (also called
petroleum naphta) benzine (also called coal-naphta), amyl- methyl- or ethyl-alcohol,
acetone, ethyl-ether etc.
A good varnish mixture may, for instance, be made of propyl- or butyl-acetate,
benzine, methyl-alcohol, and pyroxyline.
These acetates are applicable also to the manufacture of plastic pyroxyline or
celluloid.
For dissolving pyroxyline, it is subjected to the action of propyl- or butyl-acetate in
‘any ordinary manner, as well understood by those accustomed to dissolve pyroxyline.
Dated this 13th day of February 1888.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
.433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Pyroxyline Compounds and Varnishes.
I, FREDERICK CRANE, Manufacturing Chemist, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United
States of America, and temporarily of 433, Strand, London, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and the manner in which
the same may be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention has for its principal object the production of thin solutions of
pyroxyline (otherwise known as soluble nitro-cellulose), which can be employed as
lacquers and varnishes on metals and other materials, without the intervention of heat;
but it is applicable also to the, manufacture of plastic pyroxyline or celluloid and to
the preparation of pyroxyline compounds in general.
The invention consists in the application or utilization, as solvents of pyroxyline,
of the acetates of propyl and butyl (otherwise known as propyl and butyl acetic
ethers) and mixtures of the same:
These liquids have special advantages in the manufacture of pyroxyline solutions
for use as lacquers or varnishes, in that they are not only good solvents, but evaporate
rapidly at ordinary temperatures, although not so rapidly as to prevent or render
difficult the practical application of the same by brushing or dipping, that they are
anhydrous and non-hygroscopic, and can be applied in the cold, and that they are
miscible, with benzine and with other known solvents, of pyroxyline.
They may be used alone to dissolve.pyroxyline, or they may be mixed or compounded
with other materials. In order to form a thin solution adapted for application to motal
surfaces, about 2½ of dry pyroxyline, say. nitro cotton, may be dissolved in about
10 gallons of a suitable menstruum, composed of propyl-acetate or butyl-acetate, or a
mixture of both in any desired proportions.
The new or improved pyroxyline solutions have a more, agreeable. odour than the
solutions generally employed, and can also be employed generally as, ingredients, in
pyroxyline compounds or mixtures, when the other elements employed are not
antagonistic.
For example, a mixture of propyl and butyl acetates, or the, propyl- or butyl-
acetates, separately, may be employed in connection with one or more. volatile oils,
benzine (otherwise known as petroleum naptha), benzene (otherwise known as coal-
naptha), spirits of turpentine, or other light hydro-carbons, or with one or more of
the light solvents, or partial solvents, of pyroxyline, such, as, methyl-alcohol, ethyl-
alcohol, acetone, ethyl-ether, or with one or more of the alcohols and ethers having
higher boiling point than ether-alcohol, for instance amyl-acetate, or with members
of two or more of these classes.
a
The following is a formula containing members of two of these classes to form a
thin solution for use as a varnish, namely:

page_text: A portion of the before mentioned mixture, say one gallon, could be replaced by a
like quantity of amyl-alcohol or acetate.
A mixture consisting chiefly of propyl and butyl-acetates may be obtained from the
lighter alcohols of fusel oil (those boiling between 85° and 125°), while the heavier
portion consists principally of amyl-alcohol.
This acetate mixture, either with or without amyl-acetate, may be used for the
manufacture of pyroxyline compounds or varnishes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I. declare, that 1
claim: :-
1, A solution of pyroxyline in propyl- or butyl-acetate, or a mixture of the same.
2, A lacquer or varnish for metals or other materials, consisting of a thin solution
of pyroxyline in propyl- or butyl-acetate or a mixture of the same.
3, A pyroxyline compound or solution containing propyl- or butyl acetate, or a
mixture of both.
4, A pyroxyline compound containing propyl- or butyl-acetate separately or mixed,
with one or more members of one or more of the following classes of liquids, namely:
volatile oils, light solvents of pyroxyline, heavier volatile alcohols and ethers,
substaniially as described.
5, A pyroxyline compound or varnish containing a mixture of propyl- and butyl-
acetates, and benzine or other light hydro-carbon, or mixtures of them.
6, A pyroxyline compound or solution containing acetate mixtures derived from
fusel oil, substantially as described.
7, A solution of pyroxyline in propyl- or butyl-acetate, or a mixture of them, in
the proportions substantially as described.
8, A pyroxyline compound or varnish containing a mixture of propyl and butyl-
acetates, benzine and methyl-alcohol, substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of February 1888.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.