An Improved Method of and Composition for Treating Fibrous or Pulpy Materials to serve as a Substitute for Wood, Leather, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Composition for Treating Fibrous or
Pulpy Materials to serve as a Substitute for Wood, Leather, and
the like.
I JOHN BALFOUR KER, of No. 521 Hastings Street, Vancouver City, in the Province
of British Columbia and Dominion of Canada, Real Estate Merchant and Agent
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:-
My invention relates to a waterproof composition of matter adapted for various
uses as will be hereinafter fully described and the features of novelty pointed out
in the claims.
invention into affect T
are a mixture of the following
Wax 50 parts by weight.
Oil part by weight.
Any kind of animal, vegetable or mineral wax may be used, the first of said
waxes i.e. animal wax by preference, being unbleached and in the shape of small
pieces. As oil, I may use drying linseed oil or turpentine oil. This ingredient,
however, is not absolutely necessary and may be omitted.
The above mixture should be caused to melt by applying a moderate heat and
should be frequently stirred while melting. Into the liquid mass, I introduce
5 parts by weight of iron oxide or the equivalent thereof and stir until well mixed.
This compound may be used in the following manner for water-proofing fibrous
or pulpy materials but is principally useful in contributing to produce as a com-
ponent a solid material or substance serviceable for many purposes. The fibrous
material is steeped until its texture is saturated, this treatment being continued
for not more than forty-five minutes even when felt one-half inch thick is to be
saturated. While the steeping proceeds, the liquid should be frequently stirred to
prevent the iron from settling at the bottom, and at the same time the liquid should
be kept hot.
After saturating, the steeped material is removed to cool; a piece of paper or
thin cloth being placed beneath and above the material. After about ten minutes, the
material is subjected to pressure between iron plates or in moulds until it is thoroughly
cooled. The paper or cloth coverings can then be removed, and the material left
standing for about forty-eight hours. Where small quantities of material only are
wanted equally good results are procurable by allowing saturated material to cool
and harden and then baking it under pressure in an oven at moderate heat.
Material of any desired thickness can be made by pressing together a sufficient
number of layers of the saturated material. The prepared material can be readily
cut by means of a hot knife or saw. The composition exuded under pressure can
be returned to the melting vessel.
As a practical example of my invention, I will state the particulars of the
treatment of pieces of cheap felt which may be adulterated with vegetable fibre.
I took three pieces of felt, about the thickness of saddle felt, each six inches long
and five inches wide, and each weighing about thirty-three grammes. These pieces
I steeped for twenty minutes in a bath of the above described composition, the

page_text: latter being kept hot, but below boiling heat, and the liquid being stirred so that
each piece might be thoroughly saturated. The felts were then removed and
allowed to cool for ten minutes. Thereafter they were placed in a copying press
and pressed to about one-fourth of an inch thickness. After cooling the saturated
felt was removed from the press, and two days later the material was ready for
use as a half sole for boots. This half sole is water-proof and durable and its
strength and durability increases for several months.
Since colophony and wax vary in hardness, and since according to the use for
which the prepared material is intended, various degrees of hardness are required,
the proportions above indicated may be somewhat varied; for instance, for articles
in which a low melting point is not objectionable the proportion of wax may be
reduced, by increasing the proportion of drying oil. The hardening effect which
is produced by the admixture of iron oxide might also be obtained with yellow
ochre or like substances.
A great variety of articles may be made from fibrous or pulpy substances treated
with my improved composition, such as inner and outer soles for boots and shoes,
also heels; boats and launches; mouldings, panels, picture frames, frames for chairs,
seats, boards for book binding, pipes, wheels, etc. In general, materials treated
according to my invention may be used as a substitute for wood, leather and the
like wherever imperviousness to water, strength, or plasticity is desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I déclare that what I
claim is,
1. The herein described composition for treating fibrous and pulpy materials,
containing colophony, wax and iron oxide or its equivalent, substantially as specified.
2. The herein described composition for treating fibrous and pulpy, materials,
containing a resinous substance, wax, and iron oxide or its equivalent, substantially
as specified.
3. The herein described composition for treating fibrous and pulpy materials,
containing colophony, wax, and iron oxide or its equivalent substantially as
specified.
4. The herein described process of treating fibrous and pulpy materials, which
consists in steeping them in a hot composition of resin, wax and iron oxide or its
equivalent, and then subjecting the material to pressure while cooling, also by
cooling and baking under pressure substantially as specified.
5. The herein described process of treating fibrous and pulpy materials, which
consists in steeping them in a hot composition of resin, wax and iron oxide or its
equivalent, placing the steeped materials between layers of absorbent material, and
subjecting them to pressure while cooling, also by cooling and baking under pressure,
substantially as specified.
a
6. As a new article of manufacture, compressed fibrous or pulpy material and
more especially felt saturated with a composition of resin, wax and iron oxide..or
its equivalent, substantially as described.
7. As a new article of manufacture, compressed fibrous or pulpy material and more
especially felt saturated with a composition of resin, wax and iron oxide or. its
equivalent substantially as described.
8. Boot soles made of felt, resin, wax and iron oxide or its equivalent as specified.
T1. 141
1.Apin 1000.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery. Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.