Improvements in the Treatment of Cardboard Paper, and Wood Pulp, and other Substances of a Fibrous or Porous Nature, and of Articles Made therefrom.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Cardboard Paper, and Wood
Pulp, and other Substances of a Fibrous or Porous Nature, and of
Articles Made therefrom.
We, James FreDERICK BENNETT, Engineer, of 18, Violet Bank, City of Sheffield,
and WALTER APPLEYARD, Manufacturer, of Endcliffe Crescent, Sheffield aforesaid.
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 follow-
ing statement:-
-
Our invention relates to the treatment of cardboard, paper and wood pulp,
porous paper, and other substances of a fibrous or porous and absorbent nature,
and to articles either partially or completely formed from such substances, and
has for its object to produce an improved material, capable of being used for or
applied to a large number of purposes and objects for which the untreated or
crude material or substance would not be suitable, nor even capable of being used.
In carrying out our improved process or treatment, we prepare a bath of molten
sulphur either alone or in combination with colouring mixture as desired, and
we immerse therein the cardboard, paper, pulp, or articles made from such porous
or fibrous material or substance, say for a period varying from 5 to 30 minutes
according to the size of the article, and the effect we wish to produce.
Any air or moisture contained in the body of the cardboard or substance under
treatment is on immersion in the molten sulphur, at once given off, and the sul-
phur enters and penetrates the pores or interstices of the material or the article
and becomes so thoroughly combined and incorporated with it, as to alter its
nature and characteristics altogether.
Thus for example, a sheet of soft porous paper such as blotting paper, after
being subjected to this treatment becomes hard like wood, and impervious to
moisture, while harder material such as cardboard, resembles xylonite or the
hardest wood, solid, impervious to wet, and capable of a fine polish.
Our treatment with sulphur impregnating the substance, imparts a hygienic
and disinfecting quality to the articles made from it, such as panels for carriages,
and articles of furniture; it is also suitable for artists panels, writing slates, and
many other purposes in which it is desirable to have a hard smooth surface of
great durability combined with economy in its production.
When greater density and hardness is desired we may submit the substances
under treatment to the pressure of a pair of rolls, or a press as may be most con-
enient, so as to compress and consolidate the material."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
ve claim, is:-
1-The process of treating cardboard, paper pulp, and other fibrous and
absorbent substances, or articles made from such substances, as herein before de-
cribed and set forth

page_text: 2-The process or treatment of cardboard, paper or wood pulp, or other fibrous
or porous material, or articles made from such materials, by immersing them in
a bath of molten sulphur, and afterwards submitting them to pressure by rolling,
or other mechanical pressure, as herein before described.
3A new or improved material consisting of cardboard, pulp, paper, and other
fibrous or porous material suitable for the purpose impregnated with molten
sulphur so as to render it more dense and solid, as hereinbefore described and set
forth.