New or Improved Solution for Treating Silk, Silk Waste, Wool and like Materials and Fabrics, for the purpose of Eradicating Hairs and Similar Foreign Substances.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1999-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Solution for Treating Silk, Silk Waste, Wool and
like Materials and Fabrics, for the purpose of Eradicating Hairs
and Similar Foreign Substances.
I, FREDERICK HILTON, of 46, Hurdsfield Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire, Silk
Waste Boiler, 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 relates to a new or improved solution for treating silk, silk
waste, wool, and the like, for the purpose of eradicating hairs and similar foreign
substances, and has for its object to produce a chemical solution for treating silk,
silk waste, wool and the like, either in the raw state, during the process of
manufacture, or in the manufactured or fabric state, in order to effectually destroy
or eradicate all the animal hairs and other foreign substances which are found
in such materials or products.
Heretofore, silk, silk waste, and particularly the waste product from the wild
silk worm, known as "wild waste," wool and the like, had to be subjected to
processes for removing the said hairs and other foreign substances from such silk
and the like, the process principally employed to effect this object being to pick
all the said hairs and other foreign substances out by hand, which it is obvious,
was a most tedious and costly operation.
Now by my invention the necessity of picking out these hairs and the like
is entirely obviated, the solution completely and effectively eradicating them
without damaging or deteriorating the quality of the silk or other material or
product so treated.
In carrying my invention into practice I take, a strong solution of silicate
of soda (Si(NaO)) and a quantity of peroxide of hydrogen (H₂ O) ani thoroughly
mix them together in or about the proportion of two parts of the peroxide of
hydrogen to one part of soda solution. These proportions may be modified
according to the nature of the material or product to be treated, though for general
purposes the before stated proportions will be found desirable and convenient.
The strength of the solution of silicate of soda I employ is preferably about
three parts of soda to one part of water, though these proportions may be varied.
For treating wild waste," I prefer to introduce the solution so produced into
the vat where the said "wild waste" is being boiled, but in the case of silk, and
Ike materials or products they may be treated while in the raw, partially
manufactured, or finished or manufactured state, whichever is desirable.
"
The peroxide of hydrogen I use is preferably of from ten to twenty volumes
in strength, that is to say when decomposed 1 c.c. of Peroxide will evolve 10 c.c.
of oxygen. I however, do not limit myself to the use of peroxide of hydrogen
and silicate of soda of any particular strength, but may vary same as found
desirable or convenient.
In treating "wild waste," I prefer to introduce about four gallons of the
mixture into the boiling vat, to every hundred pounds of the said "wild waste"

page_text: to be treated. The "wild waste" together with a convenient quantity of water
and about the quantity of the mixture above stated, are boiled together for about one
hour, which will have the effect of dissolving all hairs and other foreign matter
contained in the "wild waste" and imparting to the resulting silk a perfectly
white and brilliant appearance.
In the case of silk, woollen and like materials which are preferably treated
before being manufactured into fabrics, I introduce about four gallons of the
mixture into the vat containing one hundred gallons of boiling water, and leave
the silk or the like to soak therein for about six hours..
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:
The new or improved solution for treating silk, silk waste, and the like, for
the purpose of eradicating hairs and similar foreign substances, consisting
essentially in mixing together solution of silicate of soda and peroxide of
hydrogen, in or about the proportions, and employed in the manner, substantially
as specified.
Dated this 1st day of February 1800
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
For the Applicant.