Improvements in the Treatment of Gelatinous Substances, Skins and the like, in order to obtain Superior Elasticity, Durability, and Resistance to Air, Water, Grease and Wear.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Gelatinous Substances, Skins and
the like, in order to obtain Superior Elasticity, Durability, and
Resistance to Air, Water, Grease and Wear.
I, AUGUST ZIMMERMANN, of 9 and 10, St. Mary at Hill, in the City of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The hardening action of formalin or the watery saturated solution of 40% formic
aldehyde ou glue, gelatine, gelatinous substances, or animal fibre is well known
but the inconvenience of the resulting hardness of the products such as skins leather
or gelatine films has given great trouble and thereby partly rendered the practical.
employment of formalin impossible.
I have found that such hardening process may be advantageously influenced by
the employment of a softening agent while the hardening process of the substances
such as glue gelatine gelatinous substances and animal fibre by formalin or its
aqueous solution proceeds.
The softening agents I employ are preferably glycerine vaseline oil or other
hydrocarbons either alone or in conjunction.
By this process I obtain animal skins or gelatino films of superior elasticity,
durability and resistance to air, water, grease and wear.
Dated this 1st day of April 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the treatment of Gelatinous Substances, Skins and
the like, in order to obtain Superior Elasticity, Durability, and
Resistance to Air, Water, Grease and Wear.
I, AUGUST ZIMMERMANN, of 9 and 10, St. Mary at Hill, in the City of London,
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, that is to say:-
The hardening action of "Formalin," or the watery saturated solution of 40%
formic aldehyde, on glue, gelatine, gelatinous substances, or animal fibre, is well
known.
Great inconvenience and trouble, however, result from the hartluess produced
by such treatment applied to such substances as skins, leather, or gelatine films,
and have to a great extent rendered the practical employment of formalin impossible.
D "

page_text: I have found, however, that such hardening process may be advantageously
influenced or modified by the employment of a suitable softening agent, whilst
the hardening process by means of formalin or its aqueous solution is being
applied to substances such as glue, gelatine, gelatinous substances, skins, and
animal fibre; and my present invention consists essentially in the employment of 5
such softening substance or substances in addition to the formalin or aqueous
solution of formalin used in the hardening process described.
I do not confine myself to any particular softening agent to be employed in the
manner and for the purpose described, but I use preferably glycerine, vaseline,
oil, or other hydrocarbons, either alone, or two or more in conjunction. Or, I use
other softening agents, such, for instance, as either fish oils, or vegetable oils, or tho
yolks of eggs either alone or mixed with flour.
I do not confine myself to any particular proportion of the softening agent, which
may be varied according to the character of the agent employed, of the substance
to which it is to be applied, and the purpose for which such substance is to be used.
By my invention I obtain animal skins, or gelatine films, of superior elasticity,
durability, and resistance to the injurious effect of exposure to air, water, or grease,
or of wear.
I do not claim the use of formic aldehyde for the purpose of tanning or treating
skius, animal fibre, glue, gelatine, or gelatinous substances, which use I am aware 2
is well known, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
በ
The use, in combination with formic aldehyde, in the form of formalin, of
softening agent, substantially of the kind, and in the manner and for the purpose,
described.