Process for the Crystallization of Silica in a Compacted Mass.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Process for the Crystallization of Silica in a Compacted Mass.
We, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL PONTON, of Viewfield, Parkstone, in the County of
Dorset, Architect, BENJAMIN LEWIN MOSELY, of 36 Robertson Street, Hastings, in the
County of Sussex, Surgeon Dentist, and CROMPTON CHAMBERS, of The Gables,
Ore, Hastings, in the County of Sussex, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this process is to convert various forms and conditions of silica into
one uniform state and condition called Tridymite. This is the stable or normal form
of silica under high temperatures, and it is applicable to the manufacture of artificial
marble and other stone, and to other useful purposes.
For the object in view, light silicas, such as hydrates of silica (in solution or
crystallized), the soluble alkaline silicates (in solution or crystallized), having a
specific gravity below 2.3, are made use of. Also, forins of silicas having a specific
gravity above 2-3, such as ground burnt flint, heavy silicious sands and quartz, are
used. These light and heavy silicas, whose specific gravity ranges from 1.9 to 2.7 or
thereabouts, are brought either separately or in combination into the Tridymite
condition of or about 2-3 specific gravity, as follows:
The light silicas, of a solid form, are reduced to an impalpable powder, and mixed
in any suitable mixing apparatus with a sufficient quantity of water, preferably
This mass is then
containing silica in solution, to form a coherent or plastic mass.
compressed into moulds, removed therefrom, and subsequently (with or without an
intervening drying stage) exposed to the heat of a porcelain kiln until the Tridymite
state is reached; and then removed from the kiln. The ground burnt flint may be
treated in the same manner, or combined with any of the above ingredients.
The heavy silicas, such as natural sands and crushed quartz, are placed in the kiln
and exposed to the heat of the same until re-crystallization in the Tridymite condition
has been attained, and then likewise removed from the kiln.
In the crystallization of the light and heavy silicas in combination, the heavy forms
are first re-crystallized into the Tridymite condition in the manner just stated, and
then mixed with the lighter forms of silicas in their powdered condition with the
addition of a liquid, which may or may not, contain silica in solution; in the manner
before stated. Ground burnt flint may also form one of the ingredients of this
mixture. The moistened mass is then compressed in moulds, removed therefrom, and
exposed to the heat of a kiln until the whole mass is compacted in the Tridymite
condition.
It is known that Tridymite has already been artificially produced in the laboratory
in a loose, friable, condition; but it is not known that any industrial application, or
combination with alkaline silicate, has been previously made, or compacted mass
produced; and it is believed that the preparation in the state of powder of the
lighter silicas and flint, the method of mixing and making a compacted or plastic
mass, the moulding of the same, the combination with the heavier forms of silicas or
the ground burnt flint with the natural sands, and the indication that the mass has
arrived at its stable or normal condition by its specific gravity, has not been known or
practiced previous to this invention.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1000
ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL ·PONTON.
BENJAMIN LEWIN MOSELY.
CROMPTON CHAMBERS.
By Fairfax & Wetter,
3, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process for the Crystallization of Silica, in a Compacted Mass.
We, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL PONTON, of Viewfield, Parkstone, in the County of
Dorset, Architect, BENJAMIN LEWIN MOSELY of 36, Robertson Street, Hastings, in
the County of Sussex, Surgeon Dentist, and CROMPTON CHAMBERS, of Town Hall
Chambers, formerly of Ore, Hastings, in the County of Sussex, Solicitor, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to convert various forms and condition of silica into
one uniform state and condition, called Tridymite. This is the stable or normal form
of silica under high temperatures, and it is applicable to the inanufacture of artificial
marble and other stone; and to other useful purposes.
For the object in view, light silicas having a specific gravity below 2.2, such as
colloidal silicas or hydrates of silica, and including the soluble alkaline silicates in
solution, such as silicate of soda or of potash, are made use of. Also, forms of silica
having a specific gravity above 2.3, such as flints, sandstones, silicious sands, gravels
and quartz are used. These light silicas, whose specific gravity ranges from 1.9
to 2-2, and heavy silicas from 23 to 2.7, or thereabouts, are brought either separately,
or in combination, to a uniform state of silica crystallization called Tridymite, having
a specific gravity of 2-2 to 2-3, as follows.
The light silicas, of a solid form, are reduced to an impalpable powder, and mixed
in any suitable mixing apparatus with a sufficient quantity of water, preferably
containing silica in solution, to form a cohering or plastic mass. The powdered
silicas may be mixed with a soluble alkaline silicate such as silicate of soda. This
mass is compressed into moulds, removed therefrom, and subsequently (with or
without an intervening drying stage), exposed to the heat of a porcelain kiln until
the specific gravity of Tridymite is attained, not only in the pulverulent silicas, but
also of the silica which was in solution, and it is then removed from the kiln. The
ground burnt flint may be treated in the same manner, or combined with any of the
above ingredients.
The heavy silicas, such as natural sands and crushed quartz, are placed in the kiln,
and exposed to the heat of the same until re-crystallization in the Tridymite condition
has been attained and they are then likewise removed from the kiln.
In the crystallization of the light and heavy silicas in combination, the heavy forms,
such as natural sands, are first re-crystallized into the Tridymite condition, in the
manner just stated. These, in a granular condition, are mixed with the lighter forms of
silicas in their powdered condition, and a liquid which may or may not contain silica
in solution, in the manner already described. Ground burnt flint may also form one
of the ingredients of this mixture. The moistened mass is then compressed in
moulds, removed therefrom, and exposed to the heat of a kiln until the compacted
mass has a specific gravity of 2.2 to 2.3.
It is known that laboratory experiments have reduced the specific gravity of quartz
from 2.551 to 2.329 by means of the heat of a porcelain furnace, and that similar
calcination has raised the density of precipitated amorphous silica from a specific
gravity of 2-2 to 2.31; in each case in a loose, friable condition; but it is not known
that any industrial application, or any combination with alkaline silicate has been
previously made; or that any compacted mass has been produced. It is believed,
therefore that the preparations of the lighter silicas and flint in the state of powder,
the method of mixing and making a plastic mass (with or without silica in solution),
the moulding or compression of the same, the combination of the lighter with the
heavier forms of silicas, or the ground burnt flint with the natural sands, and the
indication that the mass has arrived at a stable or normal condition under heat by a
the specific gravity named, has not been known or practised previous to this invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. The berein described process for the crystallization of silica comprising the
reduction of a solid form of silica to a powdered or granular condition, the mixing
and making of the same into a compacted mass by the aid of moisture and pressure,
and the exposure of the said compacted mass to kiln heat until a specific gravity of
from 2.2 to 2-3 has been attained therein; substantially as described.
2. The herein described process for the crystallization of silica comprising the
calcination of heavy forms of silica to a specific gravity of or about 2.3, the
combination of the same in a powdered or granular condition with lighter forms of
silica in a powdered state, the mixing and making of the same into a compacted mass
by the aid of moisture and pressure, and the subsequent exposure of the said
compacted mass to kiln heat until a uniform specific gravity of 2.2 to 2.3, has been
attained therein; substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1889
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants.