Improvements in the Manufacture of Plastic Compounds for Building and other Purposes, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Plastic Compounds for
Building and other Purposes, and in Apparatus therefor.
We, RAPHAËL GIRARD DE VASSON, and the Société dite "LA SUBÉRINE,"
all of 36, Boulevard Voltaire, Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates in the first place to a method of and apparatus for reducing
cork into as small fragments as may be desired, which fragments present such a
form, owing to the method of rasping employed, that they can subsequently be
agglomerated much better than the cork powder produced by other means.
The said invention relates in the second place to the preparation, by means of
these fragments, of plastic compounds which can be used in the manufacture of
bricks, tiles, squares, plates, or other building materials, for filling up partitions, for
laying a plaster upon laths, for replacing the mortars and concretes ordinarily
employed in foundations of buildings, for making mouldings for use as coatings,
in short for any uses to which a plastic compound may be put.
Our method of rasping cork is carried out by means of apparatus comprising a
shaft, preferably vertical, upon which is secured a disc of metal or other suitable
material whose top is provided in order to form the working surface, with sectors
composed of an agglomerated material as hereinafter set forth. Above this disc
is held a layer of say from two to three inches in thickness formed of the coarsely
reduced cork which is to be rasped the feed being preferably effected in a continuous
manner. This layer of material is surrounded by a fixed circular casing which
has a slightly greater diameter than the above mentioned rasping disc, and which
does not extend quite down to the upper surface of the sectors provided on this
disc so as to leave at this point a very small circular passage for the outlet of the
cork powder produced. Above the layer of cork to be rasped is arranged a cross-
piece made for example of metal which is provided with the same agglomerated
material as the rotary disc and is slid upon the shaft of this disc but does not turn
with it. This cross-piece which enters the aforesaid circular casing widens near its
two extremities so that in the plane parallel with the rotary disc it constitutes two
sectors; in vertical transverse section the lower surface of each of these sectors
forms an oblique line so that the cork, being carried away in the rotary movement
of the disc, engages below these segments with the widened part which they present
owing to this obliquity of their lower surface.
For obtaining the material which will serve to cover the rotary rasping disc and
the upper fixed cross piece we agglomerate and agglutinate granular pebble, emery,
or any other hard powder, including filings, so as to produce a compound formed
of one or more of these powders with which is mixed either syrupy silicate of
potash or soda, or a glue having a gelatine base.
By means of the cork obtained by the above-described means in the form of
fragments of any degree of fineness, which degree can be varied at will according
to the applications of the same we manufacture a plastic cement or mortar, which
may serve for any uses for which ordinary cement and mortar is adapted, and
which may moreover be employed for making industrial or artistic mouldings and
for rough-plastering purposes in which caso fabrics or any fibres are mixed there-
with. By virtue of the presence of cork it is impervious to moisture, forms a bad
conductor of heat and sound, and possesses great plasticity.
This mortar or cement contains besides cork burnt sulphate of lime or plaster,
and dextrine or other glue adapted to replace it. In many cases we add to
these elements sesquioxide of iron which imparts hardness and strength to the

page_text: product and presents moreover for artistic applications the advantage of giving it
the colour of terra cotta.
The preparation of the mixture can be effected in two different modes.
In the first mode of operation cork powder is mixed in a dry state with
sulphate of lime and also with sesquioxide of iron if it is to be employed
(about one or two volumes of cork powder for 2 to 1 volunies of the other material
or materials); then dextrine is dissolved in the water necessary for the mixing
(about 500 grammes of dextrine for 20 kilogrammes of sulphate of lime or a mixture
of sulphate of lime and sesquioxide). The mixing can be effected in the hot state
if the "setting" of the cement is to be hastened.
In the second mode of operation the sulphate of lime sesquioxide of iron if used,
and dextrine are mixed in the dry state; then the cork powder is incorporated in
the dry state with the mass and the mixing is effected either in the hot or cold
state.
In both cases the mixing can be effected either with pure water or with gelatine
water or glue.
In both cases any desired colouring matters which may be soluble or insoluble,
mineral or organic can be incorporated with the cement either during the mixing
or before. Into the mixture may also be introduced any materials suitable for
varying the duration of the setting or the degree of adhesion, such as ashes,
puzzolana, cements of various kinds, or also materials, such as soluble silicates,
ammonium phosphate, sodium tungstate, and the like, which are adapted to render
the cork incombustible.
The mouldings made with our mortar or cement can receive a glazing or protecting
coating for hardening the surface and opposing the action of dust and even that of
moisture. This glazing is essentially constituted of talc powder applied in the dry
state to the moist mouldings which are then rubbed with dry wadding. I may also
varnish the mouldings, for hardening the surface of the same and for augmenting
the hydrofuge property of the cork, by means of stearin, paraffin, suet, wax, or
the like; these substances being applied upon the material perfectly dry and hot.
The hardening of the mouldings can also be obtained by applying resin or india-
rubber to their surface which is effected either in the dry or hot state of the same,
or by means of a solution of those bodies.
For manufacturing building materials, mouldings or coatings specially designed
to be employed in humid places we prefer to abandon the use of plaster in the
preparation of our compound having a base of cork, and metallize the cork by an
oxychloride, for example by means of oxychloride of zinc. In this case we mix
with the cork powder (of any degree of fineness) zinc oxide of commerce and add
to this mixture water holding zinc chloride in solution; the degree of concentration
of this solution can be varied from about 30 degrees to 50 degrees Baumé, thereby
varying the duration of the setting of the cement or mortar obtained and the
density of the metallized cork. The proportion of zinc oxide to be mixed with the
cork powder depends upon the degree of fineness of the latter (because the zinc
oxide must fill up the spaces) and upon the density which is to be imparted to the
cork by the metallization.
We can achieve the same result by adding hydrochloric acid to the mixture of
cork and zinc oxide.
In certain cases we replace the zinc oxide either in part or totally by magnesia
in the state of magnesium of oxide, and the zinc chloride by magnesium chloride.
It is a matter of course that with our compound thus modified by the metal-
lization of the cork we can incorporate as in the case of the employment of burnt
sulphate of lime, any colouring matters, as also substances suitable for rendering
the cork incombustible, for enabling the employment of the composition as a
heat non-conducting coating for steam boilers, steam pipes, distilling apparatus,
and tho like, or its use for making the partitions or casings of drying apparatus
heating apparatus, and the like.
In both cases we may add to the mixture substances which are adapted for

page_text: effecting electric insulation, such as indiarubber and gutta-percha. Owing to this
addition our compound may be of the greatest service in cases where it is necessary
to obtain the electric insulation at the same time as a protection against moisture,
cold or heat. It can be used in the manufacture of any supports, bell or cup
insulators, or may be employed as a protecting coating on the surface of wires or
metal parts in the interior of tunnels, drains, cellars, trenches, and the like.
Finally we can add to the compound cements which set either quickly or slowly;
in like manner animal or vegetable fibres can be introduced for imparting to it
greater cohesion.
To obtain a coating we may in certain cases employ simply as an agglutinant
either lime milk to which zinc silicate or zinc chloride or also potassium or
sodium silicate has been added, or a clear paste of cement which sets either slowly
or rapidly.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Plastic Compounds for
Building and other Purposes, and in Apparatus therefor.
We, RAPHAEL GIRARD DE VASSON, and the Société dite "LA SUBÉRINE," all
of 36 Boulevard Voltaire, Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 in the first place to a method of and apparatus for
reducing cork into as small fragments or particles as may be desired, which
fragments or particles present such a form, owing to the method of rasping
employed, that they can substantially be agglomerated much better than the cork
powder produced by other means.
The said invention relates in the second place to the preparation, by means of
these fragments, of plastic compounds which can be used in the manufacture of
bricks, tiles, squares, plates or other building materials for filling up partitions for
laying a plaster upon laths, for replacing the mortars and concretes ordinarily
employed in foundations of buildings for making mouldings for use as coatings, in
short for any uses to which a plastic compound may be put.
Our method of rasping cork is carried out by means of apparatus comprising a
shaft, preferably vertical upon which is secured a disc of metal or other suitable
material, whose top is provided in order to form the working surface, with sectors
composed of an agglomerated material as hereinafter set forth. Above this disc is
held a layer of say from two to three inches in thickness, formed of the
coarsely reduced cork which is to be rasped, the feed being preferably effected in
a continuous manner. This layer of material is surrounded by a fixed circular
casing which has a slightly greater diameter than the above-mentioned rasping
disc, and which does not extend quite down to the upper surface of the sectors
provided on this disc so as to leave at this point a very small circular passage for
the outlet of the cork powder produced. Above the layer of cork to be rasped is
arranged a cross-piece made for example of metal which is provided with the same
agglomerated material as the rotary dise and is slid upon the shaft of this disc but
does not turn with it. This cross-piece which enters the aforesaid circular casing
widens near its two extremities so that in the plane parallel with the rotary disc it
constitutes two sectors, in vertical transverse section the lower surface of each of
these sectors forms an oblique line so that the cork, being carried away in the
rotary movement of the disc, engages below these segments with the widened part
which they present owing to this obliquity of their lower surface.

page_text: machine for reducing the cork,
Figure 1 is a vertical section and
Figure 2 a horizontal section on the line X-X of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail view of the cross piece.
In these figures A is the vessel which contains the cork to be pulverized.
B is the rasping disc provided with sectors as hereinbefore stated. This disc is
keyed upon the vertical shaft C which receives its rotary movement from the
driving pulley D through the medium of bevel wheels E F.
G is the metallic cross-piece slid upon the shaft C, along which it can rise and
descend without being able to turn with the same; for this purpose it is guided by
the ribs H. H. formed upon the inner periphery of the vessel A. This cross-piece
is constructed as above described and as represented in the drawing.
I is a circular passage provided between the disc B and the vessel A; it is
provided with saw blades J J one of which J is fixed to the rasping disc and the
other J¹ to the fixed vessel, and between the teeth of which the pulverulent cork
is forced to pass in order to move to the circular passage K in proportion as it is
produced. L indicates the channel through which the powder descends in order to
be put in a sock.
For obtaining the material which will serve to cover the rotary rasping disc and
the upper fixed cross-piece we agglomerate and agglutinate granular pebble emery
or any other hard powder, including filings, so as to produce a compound formed
of one or more of these powders with which is mixed either sirupy silicate of
potash or soda, or a glue having a gelatine base.
By means of the cork obtained by the above-described means in the form of
fragments of any degree of fineness, which degree can be varied at will according
to the applications of the same, we manufacture a plastic cement or mortar which
may serve for any uses for which ordinary cement and mortar is adapted, and
which may moreover be employed for making industrial or artistic mouldings and
for rough-plastering purposes in which case fabrics or any fibre are mixed there-
with. By virtue of the presence of cork it is impervious to moisture, forms a
bad conductor of heat and sound and possesses great plasticity.
This mortar or cement contains besides cork, burnt sulphate of lime or plaster,
and dextrine or other glue adapted to replace it. In many cases we add to these
elements sesquioxide of iron which imparts hardness and strength to the product
and presents moreover for artistic applications the advantage of giving it the
colour of terra cotta.
The preparation of the mixture can be effected in two different modes. In the
first mode of operation cork powder is mixed in a dry state with sulphate of lime
and also with sesquioxide of iron if it is to be employed (about 1 or 2 volumes of
cork powder for 2 to 1 volumes of the other material or materials) then dextrine is
dissolved in the water necessary for the mixing (about 500 grammes of dextrine
for 20 kilogrammes of sulphate of lime or a mixture of sulphate of lime and
sesquioxide). The mixing can be effected in the hot state if the setting of the
cement is to be hastened.
In the second mode of operation the sulphate of lime, sesquioxide of iron, if
used, and dextrine are mixed in the dry state, then the cork powder is incorporated
in the dry state with the mass and the mixing is effected either in the hot or cold
state.
In both cases the mixing can be effected either with pure water or with gelatine-
water or glue.
In both cases any desired colouring matters which may be soluble or insoluble,
mineral or organic, can be incorporated with the cement either during the mixing
or before. Into the mixture may also be introduced any materials suitable for
varying the duration of the setting or the degree of adhesion such as ashes,
puzzolana, cements of various kinds or also, materials, such as soluble silicates,

page_text: ammonium phosphate, sodium tungstate, and the like which are adapted to render
the cork incombustible.
The mouldings made with our mortar or cement can receive a glazing or
protecting coating for hardening the surface and opposing the action of dust and
even that of moisture. This glazing essentially consists of tale powder applied in
the dry state to the moist mouldings which are then rubbed with dry wadding.
I varnish the mouldings, for hardening the surface of the same and for augmenting
the imperviousness of the cork, by means of stearine paraffin, suet wax, or the
like, these substances being applied upon the material perfectly dry and hot. The
hardening of the mouldings can also be obtained by applying resin or india-rubber
to their surface, which is effected either in the dry or hot state of the same, or by
means of a solution of these bodies.
For manufacturing building materials, mouldings or coatings specially designed
to be employed in humid places we prefer to abandon the use of plaster in the
preparation of our compound having a base of cork, and metallize the cork by an
oxychloride, for example by means of oxychloride of zinc. In this case we mix
with the cork powder (of any degree of fineness) zinc oxide of commerce, and
add to this mixture water holding zinc chloride in solution the degree of
concentration of this solution can be varied from about 30 degrees to 50 degrees
Baumé thereby varying the duration of the setting of the cement or mortar
obtained and the density of the metallized cork. The proportion of zinc oxide to
be mixed with the cork powder depends upon the degree of fineness of the latter
(because the zinc oxide must fill up the spaces) and upon the density which is to
be imparted to the cork by the metallization.
We can achieve the same result by adding hydrochloric acid to the mixture of
cork and zinc oxido.
In certain cases we replace the zinc oxide either in part or totally by magnesia
in the state of oxide, and the zinc chloride by magnesium chloride. It is a matter
of course that with our compound thus modified by the metallization of the cork
we can incorporate as in the case of the employment of burnt sulphate of lime,
any colouring matters, as also substances suitable for rendering the cork
incombustible, for enabling the employment of the composition as a heat non-
conducting coating for steam boilers, steam pipes, distilling apparatus, and the
like, or its use for making the partitions or casing of drying apparatus, heating
apparatus, and the like.
In both cases we may add to the mixture substances which are adapted for
effecting the electric insulation, such as indiarubber and gutta-percha. Owing to
this addition our compound may be of the greatest service in cases where it is
necessary to obtain the electric insulation at the same time as a protection against
moisture, cold or heat. It can be used in the manufacture of any supports bell or
cup insulators or may be employed as a protecting coating on the surface of wires
or metal parts in the interior of tunnels, drains, cellars, trenches, and the like.
Finally we can add to the compound cements which set either quickly or slowly,
in like manner animal or vegetable fibres can be introduced for imparting to it
greater cohesion.
To obtain a coating we may in certain cases employ simply as an agglutinant
either lime milk to which zinc silicate or zinc chloride or also potassium or sodium
silicate has been added, or a clear paste of cement which sets either slowly or
rapidly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The herein described method of rasping cork, which enables this material
to be reduced to fragments or particles of any desired size suitable for agglomeration,
for the purpose above specified.

page_text: Second. The heroin described improved apparatus for rasping cork, for the
purpose above specified.
Third. The formation of plastic cements or mortars having a base of cork, for
various uses, by means of the materials above mentioned and by operating in the
manner described.
Fourth. The application of protecting coatings or of a varnish upon the
mouldings made with the improved cements or mortars.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.