IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF CAOUTCHOUC, GUTTA PERCHA, AND ANALOGOUS GUMS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gerner, of the City, County, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF CAOUTCHOUC,
GUTTA PERCHA, AND ANALOGOUS GUMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gerner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1880.
HENRY GERNER, of the City, County, and State of New York, in the United
States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE AND
TREATMENT OF CAOUTCHOUC, GUTTA PERCHA, AND ANALOGOUS GUMS,"
I have found that camphor combines with caoutchouc, gutta percha, and
analogous gums, and sulphur or sulphur in its combinations, and vulcanizes the
compound by the aid of heat. A thorough chemical combination is formed, a
result not attained by mixing caoutchouc, gutta percha, or other gum with sulphur
alone, and exposing the mixture to heat, the combination being only to a very.
limited degree, and the gum and the sulphur being almost only mechanically mixed
and held together. By the introduction of camphor a much cheaper and superior
article is produced than by the old and present methods. In order to incorporate
the camphor properly with the caoutchouc (it is unnecessary to repeat "gutta
percha and analogous gums" further) and the sulphur (the same observation
applying to "or sulphur" in its combinations) the camphor may be dissolved in
alcohol, naphtha, benzine, gasoline, or the chemical equivalents of these, and the
solution so obtained mixed with the sulphur and such other ingredients as it may
be desired to incorporate into the mixture. The hydrocarbon or other solvent
employed in the dissolution of the camphor is then evaporated by heat, leaving a
mixture of camphor, sulphur, and ingredients referred to in the foregoing period,
all in the form of an impalpably powdered state, which is then ready to be
incorporated in with the caoutchouc on the rollers or mixing machines usually
employed in rubber factories for the incorporation of sulphur and other ingredients
with the gum.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Gerner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th July
1880.
HENRY GERNER, of, the City, County, and State of New York, in the United
States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE AND
TREATMENT OF CAOUTCHOUC, GUTTA PERCHA, AND ANALOGOUS GUMS."
I have found that camphor combines with caoutchouc, gutta pertha, and
analogous gums, and sulphur or sulphur in its combinations, and vulcanizes the
compound by the aid of heat. A thorough chemical combination is formed, a
result not attained by mixing caoutchouc, gutta percha, or other gums with sulphur
alone, and exposing the mixture to heat, the combination being only to a very
limited degree, and the gum and the sulphur being almost only mechanically mixed
and held together. By the introduction of camphor a much cheaper and superior
article is produced than by the old and present methods. In order to incorporate
the camphor properly with the caoutchouc (it is unnecessary to repeat "gutta'
percha and analogous gums" further) and the sulphur (the same observation
applying to "or sulphur in its combinations") the camphor may be dissolved in
alcohol, naphta, benzine, gasolene, or equivalents of these, and the solution so
obtained mixed with the sulphur and such other ingredients as it may be desired
to incorporate into the mixture. The hydrocarbon or other solvent employed in
the dissolution of the camphor is then evaporated by heat, leaving a mixture of
camphor, sulphur, and ingredients referred to in the foregoing period, all in the
form of an impalpable powdered state, which is then ready to be incorporated
with the caoutchouc on the rollers or mixing machines usually employed in rubber
factories for the incorporation of sulphur and other ingredients with the gum. The
foreign ingredients referred to in ny compound may be reduced to the finest
consistency by grinding and passing them through bolting cloth.
Or instead of this method of incorporating the camphor with the sulphur and
the caoutchouc the camphor may be dissolved in the saine solvent, which at the
same time holds the caoutchouc in solution, such as bisulphide of carbon or some
of the solvents already enumerated. The sulphur and other ingredients may have
been previously added to the gums in the same vessel, or may be added during or
after dissolution. The solvent is finally evaporated off by heat. I do not
however restrict myself to any of these processes for camphorizing the sulphur or
other ingredients to be incorporated in with the caoutchouc. Any other method
by which the camphor can be properly incorporated may be employed. I have
found in practice that equal parts of camphor, sulphur, and caoutchouc (or kindred
gums) properly mixed together and exposed to the proper heat, say from 260° to
320° F., during the proper length of time varying with different thicknesses makes
a very desirable hard and flexible compound, but the proportions of camphor,
sulphur, and caoutchouc may be varied according to the quality, flexibility, and
consistency required for the different purposes to which the caoutchouc is to be
applied in the manufacture of different articles and goods. Experience has also
taught me that a greater amount of sulphur (always keeping in mind the equi-
valent "sulphur in its combinations") is required to properly vulcanize a compound
of caoutchouc and camphor than when the caoutchouc is alone, and the camphor is
wanting. In fact I have found that about the same amount of sulphur which is
required to properly vulcanize caoutchouc, is also required for hardening or
vulcanizing the camphor, incorporated in with the caoutchouc but, of course, these
proportions vary according to the character of the goods required to be manu-
factured. Whence it will readily be seen why equal parts of caoutchouc, camphor,
and sulphur form a desirable vulcanite since the proportions of caoutchouc and
sulphur in ordinary vulcanite are as one to one half. I have also found that the
mediuur in which compounds of caoutchouc (and kindred gums), camphor, and
sulphur (or sulphur in its combinations) are vulcanized greatly influences the color

page_text: of the vulcanized article. Thus by vulcanizing in alcohol lighter colors may be
obtained, while by introducing metallic alkoloides into the alcohol in the vulcan-
izing vessel different shades and colors, light and dark, single or blended may be
realized. The length of time of vulcanization and the temperature have also a
great influence on the color of the vulcanized article. Thus exposed to a lower
degree of heat and a shorter time the color will be darker; but all other methods
by which hard or soft gums are vulcanized may be employed to the same
advantage for all compounds containing camphor. If caoutchouc, camphor, and
sulphur in the proper proportions are exposed to heat like common vulcanite or
ebonite compounds as at the present time a dark brown vulcanite will be the result.
And although the admixture of different substances into the compound preparatory
to vulcanization such as metallic oxides, calcium, ivory-dust, bone dust, coal tar, &c.,
in a more or less great degree affects the colors, brown colors and shades as a rule
will be the prevailing effects. Articles made from compounds with camphor,
especially hard rubber goods, may be bleached by immersing them in alcohol, acid,
and chlorine baths; and different colors and shades of color may also be given
such articles by exposing them to treatments in the same manner as for coloring
ivory goods. Be it understood that by the word vulcanite, unless otherwise stated,
I desire to express the result of a process of vulcanization, and must not be
confounded with ebonite.
Later experience has taught me that a greater quantity of sulphur is required to
properly vulcanize camphor when incorporated with india rubber and analogous
gums than is required to vulcanize rubber alone. In other words camphor will
combine with or take up a much greater amount of sulphur than india rubber or
analogous gum will. When the necessary amount of sulphur is used for the
vulcanization of india rubber (or any analogous gum) and camphor in combination,
the product is vastly superior to and cheaper than vulcanized india rubber or
analogous gum. How great an amount is to be combined with the camphor in the
vulcanization will depend upon the hardness or softness required in the material.
A superior class of materials is however to be obtained by the greater proportion
by weight of camphor to india rubber or analogous gum in combination with as
great a quantity of sulphur as may be required for the nature of the material.
Having thus clearly described my improvements in the treatment of caoutchouc,
gutta percha, and analogous gums with camphor aud sulphur, or sulphur in its
combinations and other ingredients, I desire especially to claim,-
In general, the use of camphor, both natural and artificial, and its equivalents
in all processes of rubber or analogous manufacture, wherefore I claim more
particularly,
1. Incorporating camphor in different proportions with caoutchouc, gutta
percha, and analogous gums, and with sulphur, or sulphur in its combinations,
together with other ingredients introduced for various purposes, and exposing the
compound to heat in order to vulcanize the same, substantially as set forth.
2. Vulcanizing such compounds in closed vessels by immersing them in alcohol,
either alone or in combination with metallic oxides, alcoloides, &c., substantially
as described and for the purpose set forth.
3. Bleaching and coloring goods and articles resulting from the vulcanization of
such compounds, as set forth in first claim, by immersing them in chemical baths,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gerner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal. this Fifth day of June. A D. 1880.