Improvements in or relating to Nitro-cellulose and Cellulose Compounds, and Articles Manufactured therefrom.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th Aug., 1896-Accepted. 26th Sept.. 1896
Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th Aug., 1896-Accepted. 26th Sept.. 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Nitro-cellulose and Cellulose
Compounds, and Articles Manufactured therefrom.
1 ULDARIQUE MARGA of 57 Rue St. Georges, Brussels in the Kingdom of
Belgium Captain do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The new material constituting the subject of this application is preferably called
"cellulodine" because first cellulose is embodied and fulfils very important functions
in its composition and secondly to distinguish it from "celluloid" in which cellulose
serves only as an agglutinating agent for other materials which together form a
product which is extremely strong and only with difficulty capable of pulverisation,
even in circumstances and conditions peculiarly favorable to that effect. Cellulodine,
however, on the contrary, is of a quality which though it may be very hard and
strong under ordinary circumstances and conditions is nevertheless capable of
becoming very brittle and friable under certain conditions and influences even to
the extent of entirely falling to pieces in a pulverulent state.
The manufacture of cellulodine is extremely simple and takes place as
follows;
A quantity of cellulose is submitted to nitrification so that it may be soluble in
a mixture of alcohol and ether. On issuing from the acid bath the nitro-cellulose
is carefully dried and then passed through a crusher and lastly through a grinding
mill. Virgin cellulose finely pulverised and carofully dried is added to the
powdered nitro-cellulose in quantities varying according as the final product is
desired to be more or less brittle and friable, so as to become intimately mixed
with the nitrated powder.
This mixture of virgin cellulose and nitro-cellulose is then dissolved in a mixture
of alcohol and other, in which it is left to be digested for a certain time, so that
the virgin cellulose may be thoroughly penetrated by the ether. The whole mass
then forms a soft and ductile pasto, permitting the casting of articles of all kinds
therefrom while allowing of easy trituration and being non-adhesive it does not
cling to the moulds and tools employed; which latter is one of its most important
qualities.
If it were desired simply to employ nitro-cellulose only, dissolved in a mixture
of alcohol and ether, without the addition of virgin cellulose, one would have to
deal with a viscous gelatine which can neither be worked, moulded, or cast, by
reason of its insuperable adhesion. This defect I entirely overcome by kneading
with the nitro-cellulose a certain proportion of virgin cellulose in a powdered state,
which transforms the substance into a ductile paste working and casting easily as
abovo described. "Cellulodine " may therefore be obtained by two processes,
whereof the 2nd method is, if anything, preferable, for bruising and grinding dried
nitro-cellulose might possibly be attended with serious danger. It is therefore
preferable to proceed as follows:-
Nitro-cellulose is spread out in very thin layers alternating with layers of
pulverised virgin cellulose; then the entire mass is kneaded, re-transformed into
plates, dried afresh and broken up into small pieces to undergo the remainder of
the process.

page_text: The final product will be more or less tough and tenacious in proportion to the
nature of the virgin cellulose added to it, which may be varied in conformity with
the requirements of the final product.
Instead of cellulose, starchy (feculent) matter, such as flour &c. may be used,
and the nature of the final product may be varied by the addition of a proportion
of greasy matter, such as, for instance, castor-oil, which gives it strength and
renders it better adapted for other applications than bullets such for example as
those hereinafter more particularly referred to.
"Cellulodine" lends itself admirably to the formation of various objects, and
notably if the virgin cellulose entering into its composition is a fine, well-dried
wood-powder, to the manufacture of bullets adapted to fall to pieces under the
action of the gases produced by the combustion of the powder. These bullets are
made hollow and with thin walls, having sufficient cohesion and strength to permit
the rudimentary treatment accorded to cartridges in magazine guns, as long as
they are not exposed to the action of the deflagration gases from powder, because
under the action of such gases, these bullets become completely pulverised, and so
there need not be the least fear of an explosion, even in the mouth of the gun, as
so frequently happens with hollow bullets formed of lime-tree wood &c. or even
those formed of celluloid which break in pieces but do not pulverise as do those of
"cellulodine."
But notwithstanding their fragile nature in presence of the deflagrating gases,
bullets of cellulodine" are very difficult to ignite and are not exposed to any
such dangers in storage as are those hollow bullets made of celluloid or wood.
Furthermore, once thoroughly dried, they become quite anti-hygroscopic, and
not liable to be influenced by climatic conditions or even by water.
Dated this 12th day of November 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Nitro-cellulose and Cellulose
Compounds, and Articles Manufactured therefrom.
I, ULDARIQUE MARGA of 57 Rue St. Georges, Brussels in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Captain, 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 new material constituting the subject of this application is preferably
called "cellulodine" because first cellulose is embodied and fulfils very important
functions in its composition and secondly to distinguish it from "celluloid" in
which cellulose serves only as an agglutinating agent for other materials which
together form a product which is extremely strong and only with difficulty capable
of pulverisation, even in circumstances and conditions peculiarly favorable to that
effect. Cellulodine, however, on the contrary, is of a quality which though it
may be very hard and strong under ordinary circumstances and conditions is
nevertheless capable of becoming very brittle and friable under certain conditions
and influences even to the extent of entirely falling to pieces in a pulverulent
state.
The manufacture of cellulodine is extremely simple. and is as follows:-
A quantity of cellulose is submitted to nitrification so that it may be soluble in
a mixture of alcohol and ether. On issuing from the acid bath the nitro-cellulose
is carefully dried and then passed through a crusher and lastly through a grinding
mill. Virgin cellulose finely pulverised and carefully dried is added to the

page_text: powdered nitro-cellulose in quantities varying according as the final product is:
desired to be more or less brittle and friable, so as to become intimately mixed
with the nitrated powder.
This mixture of virgin cellulose and nitro-cellulose is then dissolved in a mixture.
of alcohol and ether, in which it is left to be digested for a certain time, so that.
the virgin cellulose may be thoroughly penetrated by the ether. The whole mass
then forms a soft and ductile paste permitting the casting of articles of all kinds
therefrom while allowing of easy trituration and being non-adhesive it does not.
cling to the moulds and tools employed; which latter is one of its most important
¡qualities.
If it were desired simply to employ nitro-cellulose only, dissolved in a mixture.
of alcohol and ether, without the addition of virgin cellulose, one would have to.
deal with a viscous gelatine which can neither be worked, moulded or cast, by
reason of its insuperable adhesion. This defect I entirely overcome by kneading
with the nitro-cellulose a certain proportion of virgin cellulose in a powdered state,
which transforms the substance into a ductile paste working and casting easily as
above described. " Cellulodine" may therefore be obtained by two-processes whereof
the second method is, if anything, preferable, for bruising and grinding dried nitro-
cellulose might possibly be attended with serious danger. It is therefore preferable.
to proceed as follows:-
Nitro-cellulose is spread out in very thin layers alternating with layers of
pulverised virgin cellulose; then the entire mass is kneaded, re-transformed into
plates, dried afresh and broken up into small pieces to undergo the remainder of
the process.
The final product will be more or less tough and tenacious in proportion to the
nature of the virgin cellulose added to it, which may be varied in conformity with
the requirements of the final product.
Instead of cellulose, starchy (feculent) matter, such as flour &c. may be used,
and the nature of the final product may be varied by the addition of a proportion
of greasy matter, such as for instance, castor-oil, which gives it strength and
renders it better adapted for other applications than bullets for practice or drill
cartridges.
"Cellulodine" lends itself admirably to the formation of various objects, and
notably if the virgin cellulose entering into its composition is a fine, well-dried
wood-powder, to the manufacture of bullets (for practice or drill cartridges)
adapted to fall to pieces under the action of the gases produced by the combustion
of the powder. These bullets are made hollow and with thin walls, having
sufficient cohesion and strength to permit the rudimentary treatment accorded to
cartridges in magazine guus, as long as they are not exposed to the action of the
deflagration gases from powder, because under the action of such gases, these
bullets become completely pulverised, and so there need not be the least fear of an
explosion, even in the mouth of the gun, as so frequently happens with hollow
bullets formed of lime-tree wood &c. or even those formed of celluloid which break
in pieces but do not pulverise as do those of "cellulodine."
But notwithstanding their fragile nature in presence of the deflagrating gases,
bullets of "cellulodine "
are very difficult to ignite and are not exposed to any
such dangers in storage as are those hollow bullets made of celluloid or wood.
Furtherinore, once thoroughly dried, they become quite anti-hygroscopic, and
not liable to be influenced by climatic conditions or even by water.
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 manufacture of a new material called "cellulodine," characterised by
dissolving, in a mixture of alcohol and ether, a mixture of nitro-cellulose and virgin
cellulose in suitable proportions, thereby forming products which, while being
extremely strong and coherent in the ordinary state, are nevertheless quickly

page_text: reduced to powder when exposed to the influence of deflagration gases emanating
from powder in fire-arms.
2. A modification in the process for the manufacture of cellulodino described in
Claim 1, characterised by the addition of virgin cellulose after the nitro-cellulose
has been dissolved in the mixture of alcohol and ether.
3. In the manufacture of "cellulodine" as specified in Claim 1, the use of virgin
cellulose in the form of a wood-powder whereby a product especially suitable to
the production of hollow bullets for drill or practice firing is formed.
4. A modification in the composition of "cellulodine" consisting in substituting,
for the cellulose, a starchy (feculent) substance, and in mixing, with the material
manufactured by one of the methods above specified, a certain proportion of fatty
matter, as described.
VAID WH
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.