IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS FOR SURFACING TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN FABRICS PRODUCED BY THE COMBINATION OF THE SAME WITH TEXTILE OR OTHER SUBSTANCES, WHICH COMPOUNDS ARE ALSO DESIGNED FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS IN THE PRO- DUCTION OF MOULDED ARTICLES FOR ORNAMENTAL AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th June 1874.-A communication from abroad by William Bell,
of the City and State of New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS FOR SURFACING
TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN FABRICS PRODUCED BY THE COMBINATION OF
THE SAME WITH TEXTILE OR OTHER SUBSTANCES, WHICH COMPOUNDS ARE ALSO
DESIGNED FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS IN THE PRO-
DUCTION OF MOULDED ARTICLES FOR ORNAMENTAL AND OTHER PURPOSES," a
communication, to be as follows :—
This Invention relates chiefly to the forming of a durable surface on
cotton, linen, paper, or other fabrics, by the use of new compounds, any
one of which may be spread thereon, and a plain or ornamental pattern.
may be pressed on any one of the compounds at the time of spreading it
on such fabric or materials. Any of these compounds may be moulded
in any desired form in which other solidifying compounds or natural
articles have been or can be moulded. They are adapted to and intended

page_text: to be used in place of and for the purposes for which india-rubber,
leather, gutta percha, paper, and oiled or painted cloths are used. Also
in forming ornamental articles, frames, mouldings, trimmings, the
imitation of articles of wood, ivory, and bone, bags, boxes, trunks,
buttons, buckles, toys, and other articles known in the useful arts.
These compounds and their use I term "Plastique."
I make the said compounds as follows:-I take a suitable vessel and
dissolve therein by means of heat in any convenient manner glue with
vinegar or other suitable liquid, adding glycerine each in the proportion
herein-after stated. I then thoroughly mix them in fine particles of
cork and such pigment as I desire to colour the compound with, and
just before using I mix in (having it previously prepared in another
vessel) chromic acid or bichromate of potassa, or other chemical
cquivalent first dissolved in water and then mixed with glycerine.
This last manipulation is of great importance to observe in all cases of
the preparation of the compound.
I also add either tannic acid or Aleppo gall water. I prefer to add
tannic acid or Aleppo gall water, though the use of either may be dis-
pensed with. When Aleppo gall is used it is necessary to combine with
it some good oil; linseed preferred, in the proportion herein-after stated.
I may also vary the above compound for certain uses by using a very
small quantity of or leaving out altogether the cork.
Having a compound as above described while hot and in a liquid state,
I spread it on the fabric desired to be covered in any convenient manner,
and before it hardens impress it with such pattern, plain, ornamental, or
imitation, as I choose to use; or to form solid articles I run it in
moulds.
The proportions in which I propose to use the ingredients of the said
compounds are as follows, that is so say :-Glue ten quarts, glycerine
from two and a half to four quarts, cork, when used, from five to seven
quarts, and about an ounce of chromic acid, or an equivalent quantity of
bichromate of potassa; the chromic acid being first dissolved in water
and then mixed with about one quart of glycerine before being added to
the other ingredients.
I prefer to add to the compound to be used either tannic acid or
Aleppo gall water in the proportion of one quart of the former or two
quarts of the latter or thereabouts

page_text: In case Allepo gall water is added, then one quart of good oil (linseed
preferred) is to be first mixed therewith; after the article has been so
formed or coated and is sufficiently dry I prefer to apply with a brush
or other convenient means to the surface of the compound that has been
employed the following solution, namely, about one ounce of chromic
acid (or its equivalent) is first dissolved in a small quantity of water
and then added to about a quart of glycerine. This process I term
vulcanizing.
In case Allepo gall water is added, then one quart of good oil (linseed
preferred) is to be first mixed therewith; after the article has been so
formed or coated and is sufficiently dry I prefer to apply with a brush
or other convenient means to the surface of the compound that has been
employed the following solution, namely, about one ounce of chromic
acid (or its equivalent) is first dissolved in a small quantity of water
and then added to about a quart of glycerine. This process I term
vulcanizing
The above described coating may be used with advantage on the
surfaces of other materials than those herein-above specified.