Improvements in Treating Amorphous Phosphorus.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating Amorphous Phosphorus.
I, SILVANUS PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.R.S., of "Morland," Chislett Road, West
Hampstead, in the County of London, Professor, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of an improvement in the treatment of the amorphous
non-poisonous red phosphorus to render it available as a substitute for the
more inflammable but very poisonous crystalline yellow (or white) phosphorus.
The advantage of the amorphous variety of phosphorus in respect to its lesser
inflammability and its non-poisonous nature and freedom from noxious vapour
are well known, but no satisfactory method of adopting it for use industrially
in the manufacture of matches and similar applications has yet been devised.
By my present invention I render the non-poisonous red phosphorus practically
equally suitable for tipping matches and the like purposes as the yellow phos-
phorus usually employed. My improvement consists in treating red phosphorus.
with a relatively small quantity of a hard inflammable hydrocarbon or carbon
compound of suitable physical properties. Anthracene is a suitable hydrocarbon
for the purpose. If red phosphorus be finely ground or triturated under benzole
or other suitable liquid with the addition of a small quantity of anthracene or
other suitable substance, and the liquid be then carefully evaporated, the prepara-
tion of red phosphorus which remains behind will be found to form an excellent
substitute as regards its ready inflammability for the ordinary crystalline or
yellow phosphorus, whilst having the great advantage of not giving off poisonous
fumes.
My invention is not confined to the use of anthracene or similar bodies only;
in certain cases I may use a nitro-substitution compound of carbon, such for
instance as nitro-toluene: such a body is suitable where still greater quickness
of combustion is required. In such case a suitable liquid would be acetone or
amyl acetate. In cases in which no objectionable results would follow, other
liquids such as water or paraffin oil may be added or used as liquids.
Dated the 29th day of March 1899.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Treating Amorphous Phosphorus.
I, SILVANUS PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.R.S., of "Morland," Chislett Road, West
35 Hampstead, in the County of London, Professor, do hereby declare the nature
[Price 8d.]

page_text: of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention consists of an improvement in the treatment of the amorphous
non-poisonous red phosphorus to render it available as a substitute for the
more inflammable but very poisonous crystalline yellow (or white) phosphorus.
The advantage of the amorphous variety of phosphorus in respect to its lesser
inflammability and its non-poisonous nature and freedom from noxious vapour
are well known, but no satisfactory method of adopting it for use industrially
in the manufacture of matches and similar applications has yet been devised.
By my present invention I render the non-poisonous red phosphorus practically
equally suitable for tipping matches and the like purposes as the yellow phos-
phorus usually employed. My improvement consists in treating red phosphorus
with a relatively small quantity of a hard inflammable hydrocarbon or carbon
compound of suitable physical properties. Anthracene is a suitable hydrocarbon
for the purpose.
If red phosphorus be finely ground or triturated under benzole
naphtha or other suitable liquid with the addition of a small quantity, from
two to seven per cent., of anthracene or other suitable substance, and the liquid
be then carefully evaporated, the preparation of red phosphorus which remains
behind will be found to form an excellent substitute as regards its ready inflam-
mability for the ordinary crystalline or yellow phosphorus, whilst having the
great advantage of not giving off poisonous fumes.
I find anthracine, paraffin wax, paraffin scale, and Japanese wax to be suitable
materials. Vaseline also answers the purpose though in a leas satisfactory
manner, not being as hard as the previously named substances.
My invention is not confined to the use of anthracene, paraffin, or similar
bodies only in certain cases I may use a nitro-substitution compound of carbon,
such for instance as di-nitro-toluene; such a body is suitable where still greater
quickness of combustion is required. In such case a suitable liquid would be
acetone or, amyl acetate. In cases in which no objectionable results would
follow, other liquids such as water or paraffin oil may be added or used as
liquids; but they are less advantageous.
The above method of treatment possesses the incidental advantage that in
the making of match-head compositions in which such treated phosphorus is
mixed into a wet paste along with other ingredients, the particles of phosphorus
thus treated or coated with anthracine or wax are largely kept from contact
with the oxygen-yielding bodies in the mixture during manufacture, thereby
reducing the attendant risks.
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. The process of preparing amorphous (red) phosphorus to render it available
as a substitute for crystalline red phosphorus, by treating it with suitable inflam
mable stiff hydrocarbons or similar substances, substantially as described.
2. The modification of the above process in which a nitro-substitution product
is used instead of or in conjunction with a hydrocarbon or similar inflammable
body in the treatment of amorphous phosphorus.
Dated this 92nd day of Docomhan 1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.