Fabrics and other Articles Water-repellent.
Year: 1887

page_text: Fabrics and other Articles Water-repellent.
I, CLARA BEATRICE WARNER of 12 Somerset Terrace, Carlton Road, Maida Vale,
in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to render farbics and other articles water-repellent
and shower proof without interfering with the porosity, so necessary in the case of
articles of clothing for the preservation of health.
In carrying this invention into effect, it is found necessary to modify the treatment
of various articles in accordance with their nature relative density and degree of
porosity, but generally speaking, the process and method which I have found most
generally applicable is that now to be set forth.
I take one part by weight of good india-rubber not vulcanized and allow this to
swell up in about five times its weight of pentane mixed in equal parts with
purified benzine. When a thick jelly, without unattached portions is produced by
this means, I add fifty-six parts by weight or ninety-four parts by measure of pentane
or heptane, agitate well and allow to clarify by sedimentation for three or four days.
The solution may be further clarified by passing hydrobromic acid gas through it.
It is not advisable to filter the solution, but if the colour is darker than is desirable
for the treatment of fabrics of delicate tints I pass the solution through or over a bed
of coarsely pounded animal charcoal.
The solution of india-rubber in volatile solvent thus prepared is either used by
itself, or more economically, receives before use an addition of two parts of solid
bleached paraffine wax to one hundred parts by measure of the solution.
To render fabrics and articles of clothing water-repellent, they are immersed until
saturated in the above solution for a longer or shorter time according to their
porosity, and power of absorbing the solvent, freed from excess of the solution by
draining in a close chamber where evaporation is impossible, or by means of an
appropriate centrifugal machine running at a low speed and then placed in a chamber
where by means of a current of air, steam, or carbonic acid gas or by reduction of
pressure the volatile solvent is distilled or driven off and collected for future operations.
The pipes admitting air or steam or carbonic acid gas into the evaporation chamber
are provided with a large number of diaphragms of wire gauze or with bundles of
wire and similarly the exit pipes which allow the egress of the mixture of air, steam,
or carbonic acid and volatile inflammable solvent. are provided with diaphragms to
prevent the possibility of flame finding its way into the interior of the evaporation
chamber and thus causing an explosion.

page_text: When the greater part of the volatile solvent is removed, the articles which now
possess a small quantity of paraffine and india-rubber upon the surface of or in the
fibres are transferred to the finishing room which is kept at a temperature above
100° Fahrenheit and generally as high as 150° Fahrenheit, and in which the air is by
preference being constantly changed by means of a fan or other equivalent means.
find that McNaught's patent.drier is a very suitable appliance for removing the last
traces of solvent from the articles.
I
It is usually sufficient to immerse the articles once in the above solution, but.in the
case of fabrics such as crape, gauze, tulle and the like, two and even three immersions
are desirable. Instead of repeated immersions, a stronger solution may be used in
the first instance, but this is not to be recommended as there is less chance of
obtaining evenness of the protective material.
In the case of articles which will in their use be subjected to temperatures higher
than the softening point of india-rubber, and especially such as will be worn next the
skin, the immersion in the india-rubber solution is followed by an immersion in a
solution of chloride of sulphur or other vulcanizing agent in a volatile solvent, and
evaporation of the volatile solvent effected as before.
Other volatile solvents and gums or resins may be employed in lieu of those
mentioned but I have obtained the best results as described.
Similarly, I may substitute brushing or sponging the solution on the articles for the
immersion described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1. The complete process for rendering fabrics and other articles or materials water-
repellent substantially as described and embracing the following features:
gas
(a) The preparation of the solution by dissolving india-rubber in pentane and
purified benzine in equal parts and adding pentane or heptane, agitating and
clarifying by sedimentation with or without the use of hydrobromic acid
and adding solid bleached paraffine wax substantially as and in the proportions
specified.
(b) Saturating by immersion or otherwise the articles to be treated, removing
the excess of solution in a closed chamber where evaporation is impossible by
draining or equivalent means, placing the articles in a drying chamber where
by means of a current of air, steam or carbonic acid gas or by reduction of
pressure the greater part of the volatile solvent is distilled or driven off, and
finally placing the articles in a finishing room at a temperature in excess
of 100° F. and in which the air is constantly changed for the purpose of
driving off the last traces of solvent from the articles.
To the foregoing process must in the use of articles to be subjected to a temperature
exceeding the softening point of rubber be added the treatment of the articles with a
vulcanizing agent.
2. The combination with the pipes for the admission to or exit from the evaporation
chamber of a number of diaphragms of wire gauze or bundles of wire for the purpose
of preventing the entrance of flame to the said evaporation chamber.
3. In the evaporation chamber the use of steam carbonic acid gas or other con-
densible medium from which by condensation the volatile solvent can be separated
and recovered.
:
4. The use of hydrobromic acid gas for clarifying the solution prepared substantially
in the manner and of the materials specified.
Dated this 6th day of October 1887.