Improvements relating to the Treatment of Textile Vegetable Fibres.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1898-Accepted, 14th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Treatment of Textile Vegetable Fibres.
I, CORNELIUS WILHELM RADEKE, of Derby Road, Loughborough, Leicester-
shire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in the process of degumming and
treating textile vegetable fibres more particularly the urticeae (china grass &c.)
without having recourse to boiling the fibres during such process and dispensing
also with the employment of caustic soda or other caustic alkali.
I immerse the fibres in a bath of urine of mammalia to which in some cases
ordinary salt is added or in an aqueous solution of such salt and I sometimes also
steep the same previously or subsequently in a dilute aqueous solution of tartaric
acid. I prefer to use such solutions in a heated state. The fibres are subsequently
washed or treated by suitable means in a hot aqueous bath of soft soap to which
in some cases a small proportion of carbonate of ammonia is added.
The length of time of such immersions or baths will necessarily vary according
to the age state or nature of the fibres to be treated.
Other materials or liquids capable of acting in like manner to urine on the
gummy matter such as an aqueous NH or suitable ammonia compounds or salts
or a mixture of such substances or liquids may if preferred be employed in place
of or in combination with urine.
In some cases I find it sufficient for the said purpose to employ a series of hot
baths of soft soap and carbonate of ammonia only.
The temperature of all liquids employed in this process should in no case exceed
95° C.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Treatment of Textile Vegetable Fibres.
I, CORNELIUS WILHELM RADEKE, of Derby Road, Loughborough, Leicester-
shire, Manufacturer, 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: -
My invention relates to a process for degumming and treating textile vegetable
fibres more particularly urticeae (china grass &c.) without boiling the fibres and
without employing any caustic_alkali.
For this purpose I immerse the fibres in a bath at a temperature a few degrees

page_text: under boiling point, this bath consisting of about equal proportions of urine and
soft water to which common salt is added in proportion of about 4 oz. to the gallon.
The fibres are retained in this bath for about an hour the temperature being kept
up whilst the contents of the bath are slightly agitated.
The liquid is then run off and the fibres are steeped in hot aqueous solution of
tartaric acid of about to 1 oz. of acid to the gallon of water.
There should be sufficient solution to cover the fibres which are retained in the
solution for one to two hours.
The fibres are then removed from the bath and without being dried are exposed
for 12 to 24 hours to air at a temperature of 30 to 50° C. In case of very gummy
hard fibres the time of this exposure may be usefully increased.
The fibres are then agitated and washed in a hot bath of soft soap containing
from 2 to 5 parts by weight of soap to 100 parts of water.
In this bath the fibres are kept for 2 or 3 hours according to their state, age
or gummy condition.
Å small quantity of carbonate of ammonia about one quarter of the weight of
the soap employed is then added to the bath and the fibres are agitated until all
the gummy matter is washed out.
In some cases this washing may have to be repeated as there is some difficulty
in judging whether the fibres are sufficiently cleared from gum until they are
dried.
Instead of urine or in combination with it aqueous solutions of ammonium car-
bonate phosphate or chloride may, be used. The strength of these solutions may
vary; I have obtained good results by employing from 2 to 4 oz. of the salts men-
tioned to the gallon of water, which should in all cases be 'soft water.
The temperature of all the liquids employed in the process described should
never reach the actual boiling point (100° C) but should be kept at a few degrees
under that point.
'
By carefully carrying out this process, vegetable fibres, such as china grass
may be freed from all the gummy matter without being boiled.
In case of very
refractory fibres the process may be repeated. The fibres after being treated as
described are rinsed in warm water and subsequently in cold water and dried.
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The treatment of textile vegetable fibres substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 21st day of Haunt 1000