NEW INCOMBUSTIBLE, IMPERMEABLE, AND UNCHANGEABLE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCT, AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME; SUCH PRODUCT BEING INTENDED TO IMITATE AND SUPERSEDE IVORY, SHELL, CORAL, CAOUTCHOUC, LEATHER, AND VARIOUS OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Otto Streubel at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1879.
"A
OTTO STREUBEL, of 1, Place Vintimille, Paris, in the Republic of France.
NEW INCOMBUSTIBLE, IMPERMEABLE, AND UNCHANGEABLE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCT,
AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME; SUCH PRODUCT BEING INTENDED TO
IMITATE AND SUPERSEDE IVORY, SHELL, CORAL, CAOUTCHOUC, LEATHER, AND
VARIOUS OTHER SUBSTANCES."
The process by which I obtain the new industrial product consists,-
1st. In treating cellulose from whatever source derived with sulphuric acid at
about 58° Beaumé, and at a constant temperature of about 15° above the zero of
the centigrade thermoineter.
2nd, In washing the product thus obtained in abundance of water until it no
longer reddens blue litmus paper.
3rd. In drying the material thus freed from sulphuric acid and in granulating it
by any of the numerous known mechanical means, then in passing it under a
suitable crusher or grinder which reduces it to an impalpable powder.
4th. In putting the said powder in a mortar (pile) similar to those which are in
use in the manufacture of paper, adding thereto a resinous soap (resinate of soda,
for example), after which, the said resinous soap being intimately mixed through-
out the mass, the soda is precipitated by means of sulphate of alumina from the
resinate of soda which has thus served as a vehicle for the resin.
5th. In collecting the material and draining it in a receptacle of metallic cloth,
then compressing it by means of a hydraulic press in order to form it into cakes.
6th. In cutting up these partly solidified cakes into thin sheets, which can thus
be compressed much more powerfully by the hydraulic press, and in such manner
as to produce the various forms it may be desired to impart to them in view of the
applications to be realized, which, as implied above, extend to all the industrial
uses of ivory, shell, coral, caoutchouc, leather, etcetera.
The product obtained by the aid of the process which I have just described is
already very slightly combustible. But for some uses which require almost
absolute incombustibility I wash the paste treated with sulphuric acid with a con-
centrated solution of sal-ammoniac (chlorhydrate of ammonia), which gives the
desired result. This same result may be equally obtained by the addition of silicato
of lime or of borates either of soda or potash. I specially claim the employment of
the said ingredients for obtaining, as regards incombustibility, a result of great
value not heretofore realized.

page_text: I will add that the new product may easily be obtained in a translucent form
by the addition to the dry powder of castor oil or glycerine. If it is desired to
colour it in this said translucent form vegetable colours are employed. To obtain
the product in an opaque form linseed oil rendered siccative by litharge is added to
the dry powder, and its colouration is obtained in this case by the aid of mineral
colours.
I claim the new incombustible, impermeable, and unchangeable industrial product,
also the means of obtaining the same, as hereinbefore described, for all industrial
applications to which the said new industrial product is applicable, whether in a
translucent form, coloured or not, or in an opaque form, whether coloured or not.