An Improved Process of Ungumming and Decorticating Textile Materials.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of Ungumming and Decorticating
Textile Materials.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of
53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me
by La Société La Ramen, of 51 Rue St. Georges, Paris, France represented by
Charles Piazzi, Managing Director) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a chemical process for decorticating and ungumming
textile fibres and more especially ramic or china grass and it consists broadly in
the employment for these purposes of basic salts of polyatomic acids, such as
basic borates, phosphates, arseniates, tungstates, molybdates, and more particularly
basic manganates, stannates or alkaline silicates, either in the cold or by boiling,
or under pressure, the result of the reaction whether decorticating or ungumming
depending on the quantity of the product employed.
The action is much more rapid and effective than when caustic alkalies or
alkali carbonates are employed as the salts above referred to quickly disintegrate
the pectates of the earths and alkaline earths, by dissolving, especially when the
operation is performed hot, a considerable quantity of cutose and pectose. The
vasculose remains in the form of a thin non adherent pellicle which is readily
removed by washing or slightly benting the fibres after drying.
The salts above mentioned do not injure the fibres, which retain their fineness
suppleness and lustre.
I will describe the use of manganates (with which good results have been
obtained) as an example of the process of this invention, the operation being
performed in the following manner.
The
Into a boiler of a capacity of 800 litres are placed 100 kilogrammes of ramic or
china grass, to which is then added a solution of manganate of potash or soda in
the proportion of 7 kilogrammes of manganate to 500 kilogrammes of water.
proportion of manganic acid to the alkali should be about 1 to 4 as a larger
proportion of manganic acid would burn the fibre and entirely deprive it of its
tenacity. The whole is then boiled for from 2 to 5 hours according to the kind of
ramie to be ungummed. At the end of this time the gums are completely acted on
and the color of the fibre varies from brown to black, due to the deposit of
manganese oxides. On leaving the bath the fibres are washed in water and then
passed through a bath of sulphurous acid to dissolve the manganese oxides
deposited, after which they are thoroughly washed to entirely eliminate the
manganese salt formed.
The fibre thus treated is now ready for use and may be bleached by means of
hypochlorite of lime or soda.
The fibre which has been ungummed by this process is very silky and retains its
suppleness and tenacity.
The proportion of alkaline manganate employed may be increased or reduced
according to the quality of the ramie to be ungummed.
It is to be observed that basic salts of polyatomic acids may give the same
results. In this case it is preferable to increase the quantity of the salt, which
should be in the proportion of about 10 per cent. and hydrochloric or sulphuric
acid should be substituted for sulphurous acid. The heating may also be performed
ander pressure.
By treating the ramie stalks in the cold, or urging when the hot process is
employed and employing a much smaller proportion of the basic salt of a

page_text: polyatomic acid, the fibres may be decorticated or detached with the greatest
facility from the woody portion.
Dated Lune 20th 1801
A. MELVILLE CLARK,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of Ungumming and Decorticating
Textile Materials.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of
53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me by La Société La Ramen, of 51 Rue St. Georges, Paris, France,
represented by Charles Piazzi, Managing Director) 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 chemical process for decorticating and ungumming
textile fibres and more especially ramie or china grass and it consists broadly in
the employment for these purposes of basic salts of polyatomic acids, such as basic
borates, phosphates, arseniates, tungstates, molybdates, and more particularly basic
manganates, stannates or alkaline silicates, either in the cold or by boiling or under
pressure, the result of the reaction whether decorticating or ungumming, depending
on the quantity of the product employed.
The action is much more rapid and effective than when caustic alkalies or
alkali carbonates are employed, as the salts above referred to quickly disintegrate
the pectates of the earths and alkaline earths, by dissolving, especially when the
operation is performed hot, a considerable quantity of cutose and pectose. The
vasculose remains in the form of a thin non adherent pellicle which is readily
removed by washing or slightly beating the libres after drying.
The salts above mentioned do not injure the fibres, which retain their fineness,
suppleness and lustre.
I will describe the use of manganates (with which good results have been
obtained) as an example of the process of this invention, the operation being
performed in the following manner.
Into a boiler of a capacity of 800 litres are placed 100 kilogramines of ramic or
china grass, to which is then added a solution of manganate of potash or soda in the
proportion of 7 kilogrammes of manganate to 500 litres of water. The proportion
of manganic acid to the alkali should be about 1 to 4 as a larger proportion of
manganic acid would burn the fibre and entirely deprive it of its tenacity. The
whole is then boiled for from 2 to 5 hours according to the kind of ramie to be
ungummed. At the end of this tinie the gums are completely acted on and the
color of the fibre varies from brown to black, due to the deposit of manganese
oxides. On leaving the bath the fibres are washed in water and then passed
through a bath of sulphurous acid to dissolve the manganese oxides deposited,
after which they are thoroughly washed to entirely eliminate the manganese
salt formed.
The fibre thus treated is now ready for use and may be bleached by means of
hypochlorite of lime or soda.
The fibre which has been ungummed by this process is very silky and retains its
suppleness and tenacity.
The proportion of alkaline manganate employed may be increased or reduced
according to the quality of the ramie to be ungummed.
It is to be observed that other basic salts of polyatomic acids may give the same
results. In this case it is preferable to increase the quantity of the salt, which

page_text: should be in the proportion of about 10 per cent. and hydrochloric or sulphuric
acid should be substituted for sulphurous acid. The heating may also be performed
under pressure.
By treating the ramie stalks in the cold, or urging when the hot process is
employed and employing a much smaller proportion of the basic salt of a
polyatomic acid, the fibres may be decorticated or detached with the greatest
facility from the woody portion."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The hereindescribed chemical process of treating textiles generally, and more
particularly ramie, which consists essentially in the employment for decorticating
and ungumming textile plants, of basic salts of polyatomic acids, such as basic
manganates, silicates, stannates, aluminates, borates, phosphates, arseniates,.
tungstates or molybdates, as hereinbefore specified.
1
1000
A. MELVILLE CLARK,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents..