IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MASTICS, CEMENTS, OR BITUMINOUS COMPOUNDS, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF, AMONG OTHER USES, FOR THE FORMATION OF ROADS, PAVEMENTS, FLOORS, ROOFS, OR FOR COATING, ENAMELLING, OR JAPANNING METALLIC OR OTHER SURFACES, SO AS TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE ACTION OF THE AIR, ACIDS, ALKALIS, ALCOHOL, AND OTHER CHENICAL AGENTS
Year: 1871

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF MASTICS, CEMENTS, OR BITUMINOUS COMPOUNDS, AND IN THE APPLICATION
THEREOF, AMONG OTHER USES, FOR THE FORMATION OF ROADS, PAVEMENTS,
FLOORS, ROOFS, OR FOR COATING, ENAMELLING, OR JAPANNING METALLIC
OR OTHER SURFACES, SO AS TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE ACTION OF THE AIR,
ACIDS, ALKALIS, ALCOHOL, AND OTHER CHENICAL AGENTS." -A communi-
cation from abroad by James Lorimer Graham, of the City and
State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 3rd October 1871, and dated the 19th April 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 19th April 1871.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE

page_text: OF MASTICS, CEMENTS, OR BITUMINOUS COMPOUNDS, AND IN THE APPLICATION
THEREOF, AMONG OTHER USES, FOR THE FORMATION OF ROADS, PAVEMENTS, FLOORS,
ROOFS, OR FOR COATING, ENAMELLING, OR JAPANNING METALLIC OR OTHER
SURFACES SO AS TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE ACTION OF THE AIR, ACIDS, ALKALIES,
ALCOHOL, AND OTHER CHEMICAL AGENTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new and improved mode of making
compositions for cements, for mastics, and for japanning and enamelling
metallic or other surfaces. The improved cement or mastic is intended
to withstand the heat, of the sun, or the action of the air, water, acids,
alkalies, alcohol, and may also be employed as an electric insulator.
"
The Invention consists in applying to the surfaces which are to be
cemented or coated in combination with other substances a hard
bituminous mineral substance found in Ritchie County, West Virginia,
and known sometimes as "Ritchie coal" or crystallised petroleum,"
but which I call grahamite. The raw grahamite being of too infusible
and frangible a nature to be used alone as a cement or for most of the
other uses above mentioned, it is necessary (in order to utilize in this
way the extraordinary powers of resistance to heat, electricity, and
chemical agents which this mineral possesses to combine it previously
with some other material which will increase its fusibility and cohesion.
For this purpose any material of a tarry, resinous, balsamic, pitchy, or
asphaltic nature, may be used, mixing such material ordinarily in about
equal proportions with the pulverized grahamite, and then applying
heat. Crude turpentine in the proportion of 100 of grahamite to 150 or
more of turpentine will form a suitable compound for the various
purposes to which the latter is applicable, one of these being a cement
for confining acid, alkaline, or alcoholic liquids, and which will not
liquefy in a warm climate or locality. Cheap compositions of this class
are made by combining with the grahamite common coal or gas tar, the
tar formed in its own distillation, pretroleum tars, and still bottoms, and
other varieties of tars. Rosin, pitch, asphaltum, common roofing cement,
may also be added, or the fusibility and other qualities of these materials
may be modified by fusion with a proportion of grahamite. These
cements and compositions, by reason of the peculiar and exceptional
qualities of grahamite, are especially applicable to the following uses,
to wit:-

page_text: (2.) As materials for cementing the joints and coating the walls of
reservoirs, tanks, cisterns, sinks, and casks. Casks and barrels are thus
fitted for containing spirituous and fermented liquors, syrups, and
molasses, vinegars, ammonia, and all other aqueous fluids, either acid,
alkaline, or neutral.
(3.) For making all varieties of mastics and concretes for roofing
purposes, either alone or in admixture with sand, gravel, clay, lime, or
plaster for building and paving purposes, also for making water pipes,
aqueducts, drain pipes, also for coating and waterproofing bricks, and
other porous materials.
(4.) For coating and saturating canvas for tents, waterproof blankets,
tarpaulins, also paper and felt to be used for roofing, and for making
pipes for conveying water and other liquids.
(5.) As substitutes for pitch for caulking boats and ships.
(6.) For the japanning and enamelling of iron and other metals, as
for sheet metal roofing, stove pipes, kettles, and various cooking and
household utensils and boilers.
(7.) As materials for insulating electric and voltaic machines, batteries,
conductors, wires, and apparatus generally.
> SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 19th October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
5 County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her
special licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time

page_text: 46
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MASTICS, CEMENTS, OR BITUMINOUS
COMPOUNDS, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF, AMONG OTHER USES, FOR THE
FORMATION OF ROADS, PAVEMENTS, FLOORS, ROOFS, OR FOR COATING, ENAMELLING,
OR JAPANNING METALLIC OR OTHER SURPACES SO AS TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE
ACTION OF THE AIR, ACIDS, ALKALIS, ALCOHOL, AND OTHER CHEMICAL AGENTS,"
being a communication to me from abroad by James' Lorimer Graham,
of the City and State of New York, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the dato of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement (that is to say) :—
This Invention relates to a new and improved mode of making com-
positions for cements, for mastics, and for japanning and enamelling
metallic or other surfaces. The improved cement or mastic is intended
to withstand the heat of the sun, and the action of the air, water,
acids, alkalis, alcohol, and it may also be employed as an electric
insulator.
The Invention consists in applying to the surfaces which are to bo
cemented or coated in combination with other substances a hard
bituminous mineral substance found in Ritchie County, West Virginia,
(known sometimes as "Ritchie coal" or "crystallized petroleum" but
which I call grahamite. The raw grahamite being of too infusible and
frangible a nature to be used alone as a cement, or for most of the
other uses above mentioned it is necessary (in order to utilize in this
way the extraordinary powers of resistance to heat, electricity, and

page_text: chemical agents) to combine it previously with some other material
which will increase its fusibility and cohesion. For this purpose any
material of a tarry, resinous, balsamic, pitchy, or asphaltic nature may
be used, mixing such material ordinarily in about equal proportions
(or thereabouts) by weight with the pulverized grahamite, and then
applying heat, constantly stirring the mixture for an hour or more, or
until their incorporation is complete and the mass has become homo-
geneous. The best material for this purpose is common crude turpentine
in the proportion of one hundred parts of grahamite to one hundred
and fifty or more of turpentine. A composition in the highest degree
suitable for a sealing wax and for all the various purposes to which
the latter is applicable can thus be produced. This composition can
be used as a bottle wax or bottle cement for confining acid, alkaline, or
alcoholic liquids. Agrceable odours may be imparted to such com-
positions in various ways by adding small quantities of a fragrant
balsam or resin such as storax, gum benzoin, some variety of frank-
incense, &c. Very cheap compositions of this class can be made by
combining with the grahamite common coal or gas tar, the tar formed
by its own distillation, petroleum tars, and still bottoms, and other
varieties of tars. Rosin, pitch, asphaltum, or common roofing cement
may also be added, or the fusibility and other qualities of these materials
may be modified by fusion with a proportion of grahamite. These
cements and compositions (by reason of the peculiar and exceptional
qualities of grahamite) are especially applicable to the following uses
to wit:-
1. As a sealing wax or bottle cement as above stated. In the pre-
paration of sealing wax for most purposes I take one hundred parts of
powdered grahamite and intimately mix it (by stirring) with one hundred
and fifty parts of hot crude turpentine. This mixture is at first quite
fluid (when hot), but on continuation of the heat it gradually becomes
thicker and thicker. The completion of the combination is indicated
when the fused mixture will draw out into long fine translucent threads
like the best quality of sealing wax. The heat must not be sufficiently
high to volatilize any considerable portion of the turpentine. When a
bottle cement is wanted coal tar may be used in place of a part or the
whole of the turpentine, and unless the preparation is to suffer exposure
in very hot climates or localities a somewhat larger proportion of
turpentine or tar (to increase the fusibility) is admissible.

page_text: 2. As materials for cementing the joints and coating the walls of
reservoirs, tanks, cisterns, sinks, and casks. Casks and barrels can thus
be fitted for containing spirituous and fermented liquors, syrups, and
molasses, vinegars, ammonia, and all other aqueous fluids, either acid,
alkaline, or neutral.
3. For making all varieties of mastics and concretes (for roofing
purposes) either alone or by admixture with sand, gravel, clay, lime,
or plaster for building and paving purposes, also for making water pipes,
aqueducts, drain pipes, also for coating and waterproofing bricks and
other porous materials.
4. For coating and saturating canvas for tents, waterproofing blankets,
or tarpaulins, also paper and felt to be used for roofing and for making
pipes for conveying water and other liquids.
5. As substitutes for pitch for caulking boats and ships, particularly
in hot climates.
6. For japanning or enamelling iron and other metals, as for sheet
metal roofing, stove pipes, kettles, and various cooking and household
utensils or boilers. For applying such cement in thin layers to metals
for the latter uses the pulverized cement may either be brushed over the
metallic surface in commixture with a suitable liquid after the fashion
of a paint, and subsequently united intimately with the surface by
exposure to a gradually increasing heat (taking care to avoid a high
heat at first, which would tend to produce bubbles, and thus destroy
the brilliancy of the surface), or the composition may be formed upon
the surface of the article itself by first applying thereto the mixture
as a thin varnish (or by applying first a varnish of tar or crude tur-
pentine alone, then dusting over the powdered raw grahamite), and
then applying a slow and uniform heat till the cement has become
fully united with the surface, and exhibits a brilliant reflection without
emission of further smoke. It is scarcely necessary to add that a process
similar to this last is applicable also to coating other materials than
metals. It is advisable of course when tars (and especially coal tars)
arc used in such compositions for coating iron or other corrodible metals
to separate previously from the tar all ingredients of acid or other
qualities which might be detrimental to that metal.
7. As materials for insulating electric and voltaic machines, batteries,
conductors, wires, and apparatus generally. In voltaic batteries the

page_text: resistance of grahamite to chemical agents co-operates with its high
insulating power in giving value to these compositions. The same
remark applies to the coating of wire and other electric conductors,
which are to be exposed to the action of air or water.
The second part of the Invention relates to compositions for roofing,
paving, and similar purposes, which are composed principally of
Trinidad bitumen or asphalte and other asphaltes obtained from the
West India Islands.
The Invention consists in hardening such compositions by adding
to them the substances known as Ritchie mineral and albertite, either
or both, the latter named substances being much harder and less fusible
than the kind first mentioned, although all of them are asphaltes. The
hard asphaltes, to wit, the Ritchic mineral or albertite are reduced to
a fine powder and added to the softer or more fusible asphalte (the
Trinidad), when the latter is melted the whole mass being well stirred,
so that the ingredients will be thoroughly incorporated together. The
soft asphalte fuses at about two hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit.
From forty to eighty per cent. of the soft Trinidad or other West India
asphalte is added to from twenty to sixty per cent. of the hard asphalte,
to wit, the Ritchie mineral or albertite. A quantity of sand, gravel,
broken stone, or other suitable substance may be added to the mass to
give it the necessary body.
The third part of the Invention relates to compositions for roofing,
paving, and similar purposes, and has for its object the rendering
compositions which have coal tar or coal pitch, or their chemical equi-
valents for their principal ingredients sufficiently hard or of such a
degree of consistency that they will resist ordinary degrees of heat and
remain fixed (where they are laid or spread for use) under the action
of the rays of the sun. The great objection to compositions of this kind
hitherto has been that they will (especially when laid or spread upon
roofs having a material degree of inclination) soften under the heat of
the sun, and run or become displaced by virtue of their own gravity,
and when such compositions are used for paving purposes they become
soft so as to be readily indented, cut up, and rendered worthless by
persons walking over them. To the coal tar or coal pitch is added
Ritchie mineral, grahamite, and solidified petroleum, which is found

page_text: in Ritchie County, West Virginia, albertite, a substance found in New
Brunswick, Canada, is also added. The Ritchic mineral and albertite
are reduced to a fine powder by any suitable mechanical means, and the
powder is mixed with the coal tar or coal pitch (which is heated), and
the whole mass is stirred until the Ritchie mineral and albertite are
entirely dissolved, the coal tar or coal pitch being first melted at a low
temperature, and the Ritchic mineral and albertite then added while
the whole mass is being stirred and the temperature increased to about
two hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, the stirring being continued
until the Ritchie mineral and albertite are entirely melted and a
thorough incorporation of all the substances is effected. The Ritchie
mineral is similar in character to the albertite, and either of these
substances may be used separately, but I prefer to use them combined
as specified, from twenty to sixty per cent. of the Ritchie mineral or
albertite may be mixed with from forty to cighty per cont. of the coal
tar or coal pitch.
The fourth part of the Invention relates to improvements in laying
asphalte or concrete pavements and roads designed to be applied or
adopted more especially in those localities where gravel and broken
stone cannot be readily obtained as, for instance, in Savannah, Georgia,
and their vicinity. Sand, gravel, and broken stone are used in laying
asphalte pavements and roads. Sand alone has not hitherto been used
on account of the difficulty of mixing the asphalte with it, as one part
of the latter to about seven of the former is required. This mixture is
too stiff or thick to be worked and the substances thoroughly incor-
porated together by a machine without heating it to a degree that
seriously impairs its virtue for paving purposes.
This part of the Invention is designed to obviate this difficulty and
to that end I first mix one part of the asphalte with about five parts of
sand. These substances can be well mixed and incorporated together
in the proportions last named under a comparatively moderate degree
of heat which will not in the least impair the character of the asphalte
for paving purposes. The surface on which the road or pavement is to
be laid is properly graded and a thin layer of hot sand is put upon it,
about half an inch in thickness, and upon this layer of sand is put a
layer of the hot sand and asphalte which was previously mixed, this
last layer being about one inch in thickness. Over this layer of sand

page_text: and asphalte a hot roller is passed, and then a thin layer of hot sand
half an inch thick is laid, and over the latter a layer an inch thick of
the hot asphalte and sand, which is rolled with a hot roller as before.
This is repeated until the desired thickness for the road and pavement
is obtained. By this process or mode of laying the road or pavement
is made with the proper proportions of sand and asphalte without any
difficulty whatever, and the proper or thorough incorporation of the
sand and asphalte and the sand layers is effected so that a homogeneous
mass is obtained throughout.
In carrying out this Invention it is important to observe that the
asphalte should be of that kind which will fuse at a moderate degree of
heat, say about one hundred and seventy degrees Fahrenheit, and if a
harder and less fusible asphalte be used it must be incorporated with
a substance that will soften it or allow it to fuse at a lower temperature.
For this purpose I add to a hard asphalte a product of the distillation
of asphaltes or petroleum oils, the heavy oils, termed the paraffine series,
and also where the smell is not objectionable the residuum of the dis-
tillation of petroleum oils, may be used, but the heavy crude petroleum
oils of a gravity not higher than forty degrees Baumé, at sixty degrees
Fahrenheit, is the most to be preferred.
The fifth part of the Invention also relates to asphalte roads and
pavements, and has for its object to overcome the difficulty attending
the construction of asphalte roads and pavements, as regards the proper
laying of the asphalte, and rendering of the same able to bear exposure
in warm climates, especially during summer months. Many asphaltes
are difficult to melt and spread evenly on a road surface, and to remedy
this a certain quantity of heavy petroleum oil may be added to the
asphalte, or the residuum of the same which will not volatilize at an
ordinary temperature, and also a quantity of the substances known as
Ritchie mineral and albertite, either or both (powdered). The latter will
in a short time absorb the excess of the petrolcum oil and will cause the
asphalte to harden shortly after being laid.
The manner of preparing, treating, and laying the asphalte mass is as
follows: Take asphalte one hundred and twenty-five parts, petroleum
oil twenty-five parts. These substances are melted and thoroughly
incorporated together, and to this mixture add (in a heated state) sand
or powdered stone seven hundred and fifty parts, and gravel or broken

page_text: stone, also heated, eleven hundred parts. The whole is then thoroughly
mixed and from five to fifty parts of Ritchic mineral or albertite in a
powdered state is added to the mass. The Ritchie mineral or albertite is
simply mixed with the mass, time not being allowed for it to dissolve,
the mass being immediately applied to the road surface after the Ritchie
mineral is added, and the latter soon absorbs the excess of petroleum oil,
and the mass rapidly hardens and is rendered capable of withstanding
the heat of our summer months. By the term asphalte is meant the
natural substance, so called by chemists and geologists, and not any of
the products of the distillation of bituminous coal which of late years 1
have been popularly but incorrectly thus termed.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated
to mc, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,—
First. The conversion of the mineral above specified (called by me 1
grahamite) into compounds suitable for cements, for mastics, for japan-
ning and enamelling metallic and other surfaces, and for electrical
insulation by fusion or combination with any material of a tarry, pitchy,
asphaltic, resinous, or balsamic nature, as above set forth.
Second. The use as cements and mastics, and for japanning, enamel- 2
ling, or coating surfaces, and for electric insulates of the mineral
grahamite or any compound made by fusion or combination of grahamito
with any material of a tarry, pitchy, asphaltic, resinous, or balsamic
nature, as above set forth.
Third. The use of Ritchie mineral and albertite, either or both, for the 2
purpose of hardening Trinidad and other asphaltes of a softer or more
fusible nature than the two first named.
Fourth: The use of coal tar, or coal pitch, or their chemical equivalents
combined with the substances termed and known as the Ritchie mineral
and albertite, either or both, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fifth. The laying or forming of asphalte or concrete roads and
pavements by means of alternate layers of sand, and asphalte and sand
mixed and treated or operated upon in the manner herein set forth.
3
Sixth. The combination of asphalte, petroleum oil, or the residuum of
the same and Ritchie mineral or albertite, either or both, with suitable 3

page_text: proportions of sand, gravel, and broken stone, or equivalent substances
treated in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
1
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Fourteenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.