Improvements in Titanic Mineral Compositions and Industrial Applications thereof.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Titanic Mineral Compositions and Industrial
Applications thereof.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has
been communicated to me from abroad by The Virginia Phosphate and Paint
Company a Corporation organised under the laws of the State of Virginia and
having an office in Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The present invention has for its object improvements in the utilization of the
properties of certain titanic ores, minerals or mineral compounds known as menac-
canite, rutile, anatase and brookite as hereinafter described. These minerals or
ores are found in the State of Virginia in the United States of America and in
other localities. They are usually found mixed together in varying proportions
but the most important, both because of their greater abundance and their superior
properties for the purposes of this invention are menaccanite and rutile.
These titanic ores, minerals or mineral compounds when separated from other
substances associated with them, and reduced to a fine powder, have a strong
affinity for asphalt, and other hydro-carbons, forming therewith a comparatively
stable mixture or composition which will resist a much higher temperature than
will cause asphalt to melt and run.
The property of the said minerals which renders thèm chiefly useful in various
industrial applications is their power to resist corroding or oxidising agents such as
air and water, and even strong acids, such as sulphuric acid.
In making solid compositions for example for use as paving or building blocks
the described mineral, being finely pulverized is mixed with asphalt, or other
vehicle. From 10 to 20 per cent. of asphalt is employed, and heat and pressure are
used to produce great compactness. The proportions may of course be widely
varied and other ingredients may be added to produce various effects.
One of the most important applications of this invention is in the production of
non-corrodible glazed surfaces upon iron and steel. When the titanic compound in
conjunction with any suitable vehicle such as asphalt copal varnish or other
varnish or gum is applied to iron and steel the application of a moderate degree of
heat (say from 150° to 250° centigrade and upwards) causes the formation upon the
iron or steel body of a coating or glaze which remains even after the remainder of
the compound is scraped off. This coating resembles in appearance the magnetic or
black oxide of iron, which is commonly formed upon iron bodies as a protection
against rust. Unlike the magnetic oxide, however, such titanic coating formed as
aforesaid can be bent without cracking, and will resist the action of all acids. It
adheres much more tenaciously than does the magnetic oxide coating and can be
produced with greater facility and economy.
The desired effect can be produced in various ways.

page_text: The simplest plan is that hereinbefore described namely to form a plastic
preparation or paint, spread it upon the iron surface, the iron or the paint, or both
being heated.
In treating articles such as armour plates or skin plates of vessels, we may
proceed in a manner analogous to the well known process of cementation to
supercarbonize the surfaces of the plates. In such case the plate treated in
a furnace in contact with a layer of titanic mineral mixed with carbon or
carbonaceous materials. In this mode of procedure the effect of the action of
the titanic mineral upon the iron or steel is increased by using a higher degree
of heat, and maintaining that heat for a period of some hours. It will be found
however for ordinary purposes, for example in treating common sheet iron that
the coating or glaze will form in a few minutes and at a moderate heat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I do not
claim broadly the use of rutile or like titanic compounds in the composition of
paints but what I claim is :-
1. The described preparation of titanic mineral finely pulverized mixed with
asphalt or other substances and formed into paving or building blocks or other
solid forms as herein before set forth.
2. The application of titanic minerals to the production of a non-corrodible
surface upon iron and steel articles by the use of heat substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Dated this 15th day of August 1893.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.