Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 16th Sept., 1887.
I, MARK ABRAHAMS, of 11ª Wormwood Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Merchant, 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 the manufacture of an improved artificial substance, and
consists in mixing and afterwards amalgamating by any suitable and well-known
process, preferably by fusion, silica, calcium carbonate, sodium sulphate, magnesium
carbonate and alum.
It is essential to the success of the mixing and amalgamating processes that great
care should be exercised in the selection of the above mentioned ingredients in
order that each one be as free from foreign matters as it is possible to obtain them
commercially.
The silica I prefer for the purpose of my invention can be obtained in the shape of
sand from either France or near Mons in Belgium, or from either Lancashire or
Bedfordshire in this country Welsh sand is not suitable; nor in fact is any sand,
otherwise eligible, which contains as much as one per cent of oxide of iron.
The sodium sulphate may be replaced by sodium carbonate, but I prefer the
former.

page_text: Each ingredient is separately broken up and ground down to as fine a powder as is
practicable and carefully sieved. All that has been rejected by the sieve is returned
to the grinding mill.
The plant I use for breaking up, and grinding consists of a Blake's stone breaker,
an edge runner, and a rotary pulverizer. The sieving machinery may be of any
convenient type and is preferably compound, i.e., with several sieves in it gradually
increasing in fineness of mesh to about 400 holes to the square inch.
The colouring matters I make use of for giving to the artificial substance which is
the subject of my invention the desired colour are, among others, the following,
although I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to them,
as any other which may be found capable of producing the desired effect may be
employed.
oxide of iridium or a mixture of oxides
of iron and manganese.
oxide of arsenic, calcic phosphate, or
cryolite.
oxide of platinum.
For Dense Black
"
Opaque White
"
Dense Grey
Yellow
دو
"
" antimony.
Pale Yellow
cadmium.
"
"
33
-Greenish
"
thallium.
"
""
Orange
")
ور
Manganese.
Blue
"
Cobalt.
"
Crimson
"
Other colouring materials or suitable mixtures of the above may be used, their
selection being made according to their general suitability, and also as to whether the
ingredients are to be amalgamated by pressure or fusion.
The ingredients of which my improved artificial substance is compounded may be
amalgamated either by powerful hydraulic or other pressure or by fusion.
If the former process be adopted, a suitable binding material is added to the
ingredients and colouring matter, when the whole mass is well stirred until it is of
the same consistence throughout. It is then ready for being pressed in dies of a
suitable size thickness and conformation.
If, on the other hand, the amalgamation is to be effected by fusion, the dry
ingredients are placed in pots with the colouring matter proper both as to the process
of amalgamation and the result to be achieved, and the pots are introduced into the
furnace. I prefer to use a Siemens regenerative furnace but my invention is not
restricted to the selection of any particular type of furnace.
When the process of fusion is complete, the pots are removed from the furnace and
their contents poured on to suitable tables, according as the final conformation of the
slab or article to be produced may render advisable or allow.
The improved artificial substance which forms the subject of this invention is
peculiarly adapted; on the score of cheapness hardness and adaptability for production
in different thicknesses for producing slabs for use as counter and other tops staircase

page_text: treads and risers, mosiac and ornamental pavements, friezes, panels, string courses,
facias, as well as for mural and furniture decoration generally. It is not liable to
discoloration by the strongest acids, neither can it be chipped by light and accidental
blows.
For polishing the surface of articles produced according to my invention, I do not
confine myself to any particular process or device. Any convenient or well-known
process, device, or machine may be adopted or adapted; but it must be borne in mind
that this improved substance is much harder than any natural stone such as marble;
I therefore use, by preference, pure emery powder, or rouge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :--
The improved material for mural and floor decoration counter-tops and other
analogous purposes consisting substantially of the several ingredients in the respective
proportions specified prepared and amalgamated substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 28th day of July 1887
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Patent Agents,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.