Improvements in the Method of Waterproofing Fabrics Made of Fibre, Paper, Tissues, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Waterproofing Fabrics Made of
Fibre, Paper, Tissues, and the like.
I, JOHN WAUGH, of Sunbridge Chambers, Bradford, in the County of York,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention communicated to
me from abroad by Messrs. Amos & Co., of 11, Broennerstrasse, Frankfort-on-the-
Maine, in the Empire of Germany, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the method of waterproofing
fabrics, having many advantages over the methods hitherto employed, and is
especially suitable for some fabrics which for reasons such as fine finish, particular
kind of fibre, or dyeing, cannot be treated in a water bath.
As it is well known, compounds of alumina especially the salts formed with
oily (oleic) and fatty acids are very suitable for waterproofing tissues, and the
usual method of introducing alumina or its salts into the fabric is by means of
repeated baths, whereby the components of the waterproofing salts are precipitated
and the waterproofing compound formed on the fabric.
My process of waterproofing fabrics, and which besides the above mentioned
compcunds of alumina with oily and fatty acids applies to a great many other oily
and fatty salts, consists in dissolving these salts in an easily evaporating or
volatile liquid such as benzol, benzine, petroleum ether, ether, alcohol, or the like,
and saturating the fabric to be waterproofed with this mixture, then allowing the
liquid to evaporate.
By these means the oily and fatty salts are introduced into the fibre ready made,
and in a similar manner the soaps could first be put on the fabric by means of
evaporation, then the material would pass through a second bath of metallic salts
so that the waterproofing salts would be produced on the fibre itself.
By this process many advantages are obtained in comparison with those hitherto
employed, and it is especially suitable for some fabrics, which for some reasons,
such as fine finish, particular kind of fibre, and dyeing, cannot be treated in a water
bath, such fabrics are by my improved process first rendered insusceptible to water
and secondly impermeable.
The new process is very advantageous if benzol and oleic or fatty salts of
alumina are employed. A suitable way to carry it out is the following:
A suitable quantity of oil soap or fat soap is dissolved in water and heated to
boiling point; then a solution of a salt of alumina, by preference, the sulphate,
is added gradually until there is a slight excess. The salt formed in this
manner and precipitated is purified by boiling it several times with water, and
quickly dried.
When dry it is powdered as fine as possible and dissolved in benzol. A suitable
proportion is to 1 per cent. salt with relation to the benzol. Fats, oils, resins,
wax, or the like may be added to the solution, if required, and heat eventually
employed.
The materials to be treated are passed through the solution, and the benzol is
evaporated in a suitable apparatus where the vapour may be recondensed as much
as possible. Such a solution of oily or fatty salts in benzol does not in any way
damage the fibre either as to colour or finish and is far preferable to all former
methods, by reason of its simple application.

page_text: the above described process has been found most advantageous, there are
many variations of the process.
The preparatory treatment of the alumina salt for instance may be accomplished
by dissolving the quick dried soaps in benzol and then bringing them on the fabric,
which may then be passed without danger through a heated solution in water of
alumina salt, which combines with the soap and forms a waterproofing salt.
In substitution of the alumina, although not so profitable, I may use the salts,
soluble in water, of calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, barium, strontium,
lanthanum, iron, copper, nickel, bismuth, zinc, tin, antimony, cerium, zirconium.
Similarly the benzol may be replaced by similar bodies such as benzine, or
petroleum ether, which are as easily dissolved or evaporated as xylol, toluol,
alcohol, and ether.
Dated this 17th day of Iul 1900
.
Improvements in the Method of Waterproofing Fabrics Made o
Fibre, Paper, Tissues, and the like.
I, JOHN WAUGH, of Sunbridge Chambers, Bradford, in the County of York,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention communicated to
me from abroad by Messrs. Amos & Co., of 11, Broennerstrasse, Frankfort-on-the-
Maine, in the Empire of Germany, 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 certain improvements in the method of waterproofing
fabrics, having many advantages over the methods hitherto employed, and is
especially suitable for some fabrics which for reasons such as fine finish, particular
kind of fibre, or dyeing, cannot be treated in a water bath..
As is well known, compounds of alumina especially the salts formed with oily
(oleic) and fatty acids are very suitable for waterproofing tissues, and the usual
method of introducing alumina or its salts into the fabric is by means of repeated
baths, whereby the components of the waterproofing salts are precipitated and the
waterproofing compound formed on the fabric.
My process of waterproofing fabrics, and which besides the above mentioned
compounds of alumina with oily and fatty acids applies to a great many other oily
and fatty salts, consists in dissolving these salts in an easily evaporating or volatile
liquid such as benzol, benzine, petroleum ether, ether, alcohol, or the like, and
saturating the fabric to be waterproofed with this mixture, then allowing the liquid
to evaporate..
By these means the oily and fatty salts are introduced into the fibre ready
made, and in a similar manner the soaps could first be put on the fabric by means
of evaporation, then the material would pass through a second bath of metallic salts
so that the waterproofing salts would be produced on the fibre itself.
By this process many advantages are obtained in comparison with those hitherto
employed, and it is especially suitable for some fabrics, which for some reasons,
such as fine finish, particular kind of fibre, and dyeing cannot be treated in a
water bath, such fabrics are by my improved process first rendered insusceptible
to water and secondly impermeable.
The new process is very advantageous if benzol and oleic or fatty salts of alumina
are employed. A suitable way to carry it out is the following

page_text: A suitable quantity of oil soap or fat soap is dissolved in water and heated to
boiling point; then a solution of a salt of alumina, by preference, the sulphate,
is added gradually until there is a slight excess. The salt formed in this
manner and precipitated is purified by boiling it several times with water, and
quickly dried.
When dry it is powdered as fine as possible and dissolved in benzol. A suitable
proportion is to 1 per cent. salt with relation to the benzol. Fats, oils, resins,
wax, or the like may be added to the solution, if required, and heat eventually
employed.
The materials to be treated are passed through the solution, and the benzol is
evaporated in a suitable apparatus where the vapour may be recondensed as much
as possible. Such a solution of oily or fatty salts in benzol does not in any way
damage the fibre either as to colour or finish and is far preferable to all former
methods, by reason of its simple application.
While the above described process has been found most advantageous, there are
many variations of the process.
The
preparatory treatment of the alumina salt for instance may be accomplished
by dissolving the quick dried soaps in benzol, and then bringing them on the
fabric, which may then be passed without danger through a heated solution in water
of alumina salt, which combines with the soap and forms a waterproofing salt.
In substitution of the alumina, although not so profitable, I may use the salts,
soluble in water, of calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, barium, strontium,
lanthanum, iron, copper, nickel, bismuth, zinc, tin, antimony, cerium, zirconium.
Similarly the benzol may be replaced by similar bodies such as benzine, or
petroleum ether, which are as easily dissolved or evaporated as xylol, toluol,
alcohol, and ether.
The before mentioned description relates to fibre, paper or tissues, but as paper
or tissue is a compound of organic fibres, the method of waterproofing herein before
described is applicable to leather also which is an organic compound.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A method of waterproofing fabrics, paper, leather and the like, consisting in
dissolving a waterproofing salt in an easily evaporating liquid, saturating the said
fabrics, paper, leather or other articles with this solution, and subsequently
evaporating the dissolving material, substantially as described.
2. A method of waterproofing fabrics, paper, leather and the like, consisting in
dissolving fatty or oily salts of alumina in an easily evaporating solvent, saturating
the said article with the solution and subsequently evaporating the solvent,
substantially as described.
3. A method of waterproofing fabrics, paper, leather and the like, consisting in
dissolving salts in an easily evaporating liquid of the benzol class, saturating the
said articles with the solution and allowing the solving agent to evaporate..
4. A method of waterproofing fabrics, paper, leather and the like, consisting.in
dissolving salts of alumina in an easily evaporating liquid of the benzol class,
aturating the said article with the solution and allowing the solving agent to
vaporate.
5. A method of waterproofing fabrics, paper, leather and the like, consisting in
lissolving oily or fatty salts of alumina in an easily evaporating liquid of the
enzol class, saturating the said article with the solution aud allowing the solving
gent to evaporate.
6. A method of waterproofing fabrics, paper, leather and the like, consisting in
issolving a waterproofing salt in an easily evaporating liquid, saturating the said
abrics, paper, leather, or other articles with this solution, and subsequently
vaporating the dissolving material, and recondensing the evaporated liquid,
ubstantially as described.

page_text: 7. A method of waterproofing fabrics, paper, leather or the like, consisting in
dissolving salts of alumina in an easily evaporating liquid of the benzol class,
saturating the said article with the solution, allowing the solving agent to
evaporate, and recondensing the evaporated liquid of the benzol class, substantially
as described.