Improvements in the Construction of Floors and Walls.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Floors and Walls.
I, JOSEPH THEODOR SZEK, Manufacturer, of 63 and 64, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of floors and walls.
In making a floor according to this invention I prepare the same as follows:
I first level and clean the floor and preferably insert therein small nails so as to
project say ths to a ½ of an inch. This gives a firm hold to the material
afterwards put on. I next cover the floor with a suitable foundation, hydraulic
cement, mortar, or the like but by preference with a mixture of Sorrels cement
and sawdust or similar material. When this foundation has set sufficiently to
allow of further work, I cover it with a layer of plastic material, by preference
such as is described in the Specification filed with my application for Letters
Patent No. 6511/1898. This is poured on, or spread over the foundation and well
beaten down to drive out air-bubbles and fill up all interstices, then it is smoothed
and allowed to set and become dry.
If desired the floor may then be polished, say for instance with pumice-stone.
A floor may thus be made of any dimensions in a single piece without joint or
crevice, or interstices.
In like manner I may cover a wall with a solid homogeneous layer by preparing
it in any convenient manner and applying thereto plastic material as aforesaid.
I may also apply colour to the floor or wall in any convenient manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1. A flooring consisting of a suitable foundation covered with a layer of plastic
material, and constructed as hereinabove set forth.
2. A wall covered with a layer of plastic material, constructed as hereinabove
set forth.
Dated this 18th day of June 1898.
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
COMUNID DI MUIFICATION.
Improvements in Plastic Material for use in Making Tiles and other
Moulded articles and in Making Floors, Walls, and the like.
I, JOSEPH THEODOR SZEK, Manufacturer, of 63 and 64, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, 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:―
This invention relates to improvements in plastic material for making tiles
and other moulded articles, such as plates or slabs for constructing lavatories, tops
of wash stands, table tops; architectural mouldings, cornices, pilasters, corbels
and the like, and a variety of articles that may be made from plastic material,
also floors, walls and the like.
Articles made from the plastic material above mentioned are fire-proof, non-
conductors of heat, sound or electricity, waterproof, will resist changes of tempera-
ture, the attacks of vermin and fungoid growths and will resist the growth of
disease-germs.
I will now describe the manner or method of making plastic material according
to this invention and then its application for some of the purposes hereinabove
enumerated.
"
"
I take sawdust, shavings of wood, wood-wool, wood pulp, cellulose or a similar
material all, or any of which may be used whenever wood is hereinafter
mentioned.
The wood (or other material as already pointed out) is steeped in a solution of
sulphate of magnesia, with or without the addition of borax. About one pound of
sulphate of magnesia for each gallon of water is a suitable proportion, and if
borax is used, half a pound, say, thereof is also added, or borax may be substituted
for the sulphate of magnesia; these proportions may be varied. The object of this
treatment is thoroughly to saturate the wood with the sulphate of magnesia or
with that and the borax.
A convenient way is to mix the solution with so much of the wood as to make a
fairly stiff pulp or paste. I leave the mixture for some time (say 6 to 8 hours)
and then squeeze out the excess of solution. The saturated wood is then dried and
finely pulverised. For cheapness' sake I may dispense with the grinding and in
that case further treat the material as will presently appear without first squeezing
out the liquid.
The product obtained, whether dried and ground or not, is next thoroughly
mixed with magnesia or burnt magnesite. This mixture may be used as it is for
some or all of the purposes mentioned. I may however further treat it as
follows:
Sufficient water is added to make a thick paste or pulp. To this paste or pulp
I then add dilute hydrochloric acid in such proportion that the pure acid amounts
to about 10 to 15 per cent. of the total amount of water in the pulp or paste. I
may however separately mix the magnesia with sufficient water and add the
hydrochloric acid thereto, and then combine it with the wood whether dry, or in
the mot state.

page_text: The paste so prepared when dried, is the new material hereinabove referred to.
The amount of saturated wood is variable within very wide limits, the more wood
there is in the resultant material, the lighter it will be, the more magnesia or
burnt magnesite, the harder it will be. Twenty to fifty per cent. of the magnesia
will yield good results according to the ultimate purpose to be attained.
I may also use slag wool in substitution for the saturated wood, or in com-
bination with it.
In making moulded articles such as tiles, cornices, mouldings and so forth,
the material is cast in moulds and allowed to set, pressure being applied if desired
in any well known manner.
I may also colour the material either by incorporating therewith suitable
pigments or by painting the surface. Floors, walls or the like are covered with
such material in any well known manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1
1. A plastic material consisting of sawdust, wood wool, wood pulp, cellulose,
or the like, treated with sulphate of magnesia, borax, or a mixture of both, and
then mixed with magnesia or burnt magnesite.
2. A plastic material consisting of sawdust wood-wool, wood-pulp, cellulose or
the like treated with sulphate of magnesia, or with borax (or with a mixture of
both) dissolved in water, then dried and ground, mixed with magnesia or burnt
magnesite and made into a pulp or paste with a weak solution of hydrochloric
acid substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. A plastic material consisting of sawdust wood meal, wood pulp, cellulose or
the like treated with a solution of sulphate of magnesia or borax, or a mixture of
the same, with which is mixed (without drying) magnesia or burnt magnesite and
water, hydrochloric acid being added, as described.
Dated this 17th day of March 1898.
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.