IMPROVEMENTS IN PLASTIC COMPOUNDS
Year: 1885

page_text: I HENRY WASS MERRITT of Somerville in the State of Massachusetts one of
the United States of America Chemist do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PLASTIC COMPOUNDS and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention consists of a new plastic compound' which exposed to the air
will set and become extremely hard. Such plastic compound is especially useful
as a plaster for coating the walls of buildings and it needs no hair or fibrous
material intermixed therewith to make it cohere. Moreover, it can be made to
adhere with great tenacity to the surfaces of wood, masonry or glass and thus
form an enduring covering thereon.
I will first describe the best mode which I have discovered for practicing my
invention and will then explain its nature and scope.
There is known in the market a highly siliceous substance called "asbestine"
which is principally a silicate of magnesium. It exists as a natural mineral
deposit in St Lawrence County, New York.
Its composition has been found by analysis to be-silica 61.23 per cent,
magnesia 31-37 per cent, alumina 1.99 per cent, iron protoxide 0.37 per cent, and
water 5.02 per cent; but of course the per centages of silica, magnesia and
associated substances may be expected to vary somewhat in different specimens.
I have found that when asbestine is reduced to powder and mixed with quartz-
sand and caustic soda or caustic potash dissolved in water, there may be formed a
plastic mass which can be worked and applied like mortar and which when spread
and exposed to the air turns as hard as a stone without tendency to crack or
crumble.
For this purpose I take twenty pounds of powdered asbestine, forty pounds of
quartz-sand and one and one-half pounds of caustic soda.
These ingredients are then worked into a plastic mass by the use of about
twenty-two pounds of water in which the caustic alkali is first dissolved and then
the powdered asbestine and sand are introduced and thoroughly intermixed.
The proportions of these ingredients here given are not absolute but may be
varied somewhat within practical limits, which will be readily understood from
the explanation herein contained.

page_text: The plaster adheres well enough to ordinary lathings or rough surfaces; but
when it is intended to bo spread upon smooth surfaces I find that a small
proportion of soluble silicate of soda may be advantageously introduced to make
the mass more adhesive. For this latter purpose I find that about three and one-
half pounds of the soluble alkaline silicate in the mass already specified is
sufficient.
Chemically considered, it appears that this stone-like plaster results from a
combination effected between the silicate of magnesium and the sand (silica) by
the agency of the caustic alkali, after these ingredients are brought together and
incorporated in the presence, of water.
I have found that various solid silicates in a pulverized state possess this
capability of combination with comminuted silica, by means of fixed caustic
alkali, i.e, caustic soda or caustic potash, dissolved in water sufficient to enable the
dry ingredients when thoroughly intermixed therewith to form a plastic mass.
Of these I may mention other silicates of magnesium and also silicates of
magnesium and aluminum, silicates of aluminum, silicates of calcium and in
general, solid silicates of simple or compound bases, more particularly those silicates
which are highly siliceous. Such solid silicates are insoluble in water.
Among the natural silicates existing as mineral deposits I have tried as
substitutes for asbestine, various other substances such as serpentine, soapstone
and asbestos, and I have found them to answer the purpose measurably well.
The solid silicates of other bases appear to be for this purpose inferior to the
silicates of magnesium; but for the sake of economy fairly good results may be
attained by mixing such other silicates with asbestine.
Nor need the sand used be pure silica; although it must be siliceous and it will
be chemically effective only by reason of the silica present in it.
Thus infusorial earth and even coal-ashes may be substituted for sand or
intermixed therewith, and useful although inferior results be attained; but this
will rarely be done on account of the abundance of good quartz-sand.
From what I have said it will be understood that along with the effective
ingredients of my plastic compound, to wit silicate of magnesium or other highly
siliceous solid silicate, in a pulverized state, quartz-sand or comminuted silica and
fixed caustic alkali, either with or without a soluble alkaline silicate, there may be
associated either chemically or mechanically other substances in quantities more or
less considerable, without practical detriment to the resulting stone-like material
obtained by exposure of such plastic compound to the air. Nevertheless, I do not
recommend the use of such foreign substances, nor of the inferior substitutes for
asbestine and sand to which I have referred. I have mentioned them only to
illustrate the scope of my invention and to show that its benefits may be
measurably attained even when it is not practiced most advantageously.
I have also found that all the ingredients of my new plastic compound except
the sand may be mixed together and kept for future use at the places where it may
be convenient to add the sand. This mixture of pulverized solid silicate, fixed
alkali and water, either with or without a proportion of soluble alkaline silicate,
can be put in barrels and transported ready for the addition of the sand wherever
it may be desired to make the plastic compound which is to harden into artificial
stone.
Such mixture of itself is new; and it is part of my invention to prepare it
separately for subsequent use with comminuted silica to form my new plastic
compound.
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
1. A plastic compound containing as ingredients silica and a solid silicate, each
in comminuted or pulverized condition, and fixed caustic alkali dissolved in water.

page_text: 2. A plastic compound consisting of silica and a solid silicate each in comminuted
or pulverized condition, fixed caustic alkali dissolved in water and a soluble
alkaline silicate, the whole being intermixed and incorporated substantially in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
3. A plastic compound, containing as ingredients comminuted silica, a solid
silicate of magnesium in pulverized state and fixed caustic alkali dissolved in
water, substantially as described.
4. A plastic compound, consisting of quartz-sand pulverized asbestine and
caustic soda or caustic potash with water to dissolve the alkali and give plasticity
to the mass.
5. A plastic compound consisting of quartz sand pulverized asbestine, caustic
Boda or caustic potash and a soluble alkaline silicate, with water to dissolve the
soluble ingredients and render the mass suitably plastic.
6. A mixture of pulverized solid silicate, fixed alkali and water, either with or
without a proportion of soluble alkaline silicate, ready for subsequent addition of
sand to form a plastic compound, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of July 1885.
WM.BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the said Henry Wass Merritt.

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "AN IMPROVED PAINT OR PIGMENT to be as follows:-
"
The object of this Invention is to provide an iron paint of superior quality,
which may be readily and cheaply manufactured; and it consists in a paint
composed of silicate slag as a base, and oil as a vehicle, the components being
ground together, as hereinafter stated.
I have discovered that silicate slag from iron furnaces consisting, principally, of
iron chemically combined with silicon, is capable of extremely fine comminution
by mechanical means, and that the comminuted silicate slag unites admirably with
oil or other vehicles to form a product having in a high degree all the valuable
properties of iron, paint, and having better flowing and enduring qualities than any
other iron-paint compound hitherto produced.
Silicate slag suitable for making a paint-base, as above described is found in the
iron slag from blast, puddling, or reheating furnaces, and is obtained by selecting
the parts of the slag, in which oxide of iron and silicon, or silicate of iron are
present, in a practically pure state, or with a comparatively slight admixture of
foreign substances.
The parts of the slag which contain the iron and silicon in the greatest purity
are usually found adjacent to the outer surfaces of the cooled blocks or cakes taken
from the moulds or pits into which the slag is run from the furnace. The parts of
the slag mentioned may be readily distinguished as being the heaviest and more
dense or compact part of the mass, and as being black, or nearly so, in color, and
also as having a vitreous fracture. Parts of the slag or cinder in which iron oxide
and silicon are practically absent are characterized by their porosity, light color, and
relatively low specific gravity. It is therefore readily practicable to make the
desired selection.
The slag thus selected is reduced in a dry state and after having been mixed
with oil in due quantities is then further ground in a mill suitable for the
purpose.

page_text: For the better qualities of paint I prefer to carry forward the dry reduction
of the material until it is reduced to a granular condition corresponding to fine
gunpowder, and to then mix the oil therewith and grind the two ingredients
together until the granular character of the base disappears; or until fine enough
for the particular purpose to which the paint is to be applied. The dry reduction
may however be continued further than above indicated, or until the material is
finely powdered, after which it may be mixed with oil and ground, both for its
further reduction, and to thoroughly incorporate the ingredients.
The paint produced from the material named above developes when properly
ground, a deep reddish-brown color, very desirable for many purposes; but suitable
pigments may be added to impart to the paint any color which may be desired.
It has been found that a base consisting of Silicate slag, though itself very dark, is
extremely susceptible to the action of the usual substances employed in coloring
paints, and that a large variety of colors may be produced with the use of a
less proportionate quantity of pigment than is commonly needed for other bases.
It is of course understood that other liquids may be employed in connection with
the oil for drying and other purposes, as in other oil paints.
I am aware that paint compounds bave heretofore been inade containing oxide of
iron and silica; but such compounds have been made only from ores in which the
substances mentioned are present in mechanical admixture, it being a well known
fact that iron occurs in ores usually in the form of ferric or ferrous oxides, and not
in combination with silicon as a natural silicate. Silicate slag containing oxide of
iron and silicon chemically combined, as present in silicate slags, is found to possess,
as a paint base, superior and valuable qualities, in giving body and durability to
the paint, not possessed by iron oxides and silica when used in their natural or
mechanically combined state, as found in ores.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "AN IMPROVED PAINT OR PIGMENT and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide a paint of superior quality, which may
be readily and cheaply manufactured.
The improved paint is composed of silicate slag, as a base, and of oil, as a vehicle,
these components being ground together in the manner hereinafter stated.
It has been found that silicate slag from iron-furnaces, consisting, principally, of
iron chemically combined with silicon, is capable of extremely fine comminution by
mechanical means, and that the comminuted silicate slag unites admirably with oil
or other vehicles to form a product having, in a high degree, all the valuable
properties of iron paint, and having better flowing and enduring qualities than any
other iron-paint compound hitherto produced.
Silicate slag suitable for making a paint-base, as above described, is found in
the iron slag from blast, puddling, or reheating furnaces; and is obtained by
selecting the parts of the slag, in which oxide of iron and silicon, or silicate of iron,
are present in a practically pure state, or with a comparatively slight admixture
of foreign substances.
The parts of the slag which contain the iron and silicon in the greatest purity
are usually found adjacent to the outer surfaces of the cooled blocks or cakes taken
from the moulds or pits into which the slag is run from the furnace. The parts of
the slag mentioned may be readily distinguished as being the heaviest and more
dense or compact part of the mass, and as being black, or nearly so, in colour, and
also as having a vitreous fracture. Parts of the slag or cinder in which iron
oxide and silicon are practically absent are characterized by their porosity, light
colour, and relatively low specific gravity. It is therefore readily practicable to
make the desired selection from a mass of slag, of that portion which is available
for the purpose of this invention.
In the case of slag from a blast-furnace the silicate of iron is present in
comparatively small quantities; and as it accumulates being distinguishable, by the
characteristics above indicated, it may be readily selected by observing the
foregoing suggestions. In the slag or solidified liquid cinder which forms the refuse
from puddling or reheating furnaces the relative quantities of oxide of iron and
silicon are larger, the presence of a considerable part of the silicon being due to
the melting of the sand forming the furnace-hearth. In this case the selection of
proper material is attended with little difficulty, and this source of supply may,
therefore, be more commonly relied on with advantage.
It is a well known fact that this slag or cinder, especially that from reheating and
puddling furnaces, contains a large proportion of iron; but the latter, being
chemically united with silicon in the form of silicate of iron, is practically incapable
of separation for any useful purpose as a metal, and has therefore been considered as

page_text: of no value whatever. By selecting the parts of the slag mentioned I am able to
obtain, at a very slight expense, the silicate slag in a sufficiently. pure state for use
in manufacturing the paint compound above set forth, while turning to valuable
account a material that has heretofore been practically a waste product.
In carrying my invention into practice the solidified silicate slag is reduced by
crushing or grinding to any desired fineness in a dry state, after which it is mixed
with oil in due quantities, and then further ground in a mill suitable for the
purpose.
For the better qualities of paint I prefer to carry forward the dry reduction of
the material until it is reduced to a granular condition corresponding to fine gun-
powder, and to then mix the oil therewith and grind the two ingredients together
until the granular character of the base disappears, or until fine enough for the
particular purpose to which the paint is to be applied. The dry reduction may,
however, be continued further than above indicated, or until the material is finely
powdered, after which it may be mixed with oil and ground, both for its further
reduction, and to thoroughly incorporate the ingredients.
The paint produced from the material named above developes when properly
ground, a deep reddish-brown colour, very desirable for many purposes; but
suitable pigments may be added to impart to the paint any colour which may be
desired. It has been found that a base consisting of silicate slag, though itself
very dark, is extremely susceptible to the action of the usual substances employed
in colouring paints, and that a large variety of colours may be produced with the
use of a less proportionate quantity of pigment than is commonly needed for
other bases.
It is to be understood that suitable materials may be employed in connection
with the oil for drying and other purposes, as in other oil paints.
I am
aware that paint compounds have heretofore been made containing
oxide of iron and silica; but such compounds have been made only from ores in
which the substances mentioned are present in mechanical admixture, it being a
well known fact that iron occurs in ores usually in the form of ferric or ferrous
oxides, and not in combination with silicon as a natural silicate. Silicate slag
containing oxide of iron and silicon chemically combined, as present in silicate slags,
is found to possess, as a paint base, superior and valuable qualities, in giving body
and durability to the paint, not possessed by iron oxides and silica when used in
their natural or mechanically combined state, as found in ores.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is
A paint composed of silicate slag ground in oil with or without coloring and
drying materials, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of August 1885.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.