A Lighting Material for Photographic, Signalling, and kindred Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1898-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Lighting Material for Photographic, Signalling, and kindred
Purposes.
I, YORK SCHWARTZ, of 24, Wiesenstrasse, Hannover, in the Empire of Germany,
Chemist, 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:-
When finely powdered metallic magnesium is mixed with a chlorate, or a
picrate, or a permanganate, or similar substance easily delivering oxygen, com-
pounds are obtained, which on ignition burn rapidly, evolving a great volume of
light of high optical and chemical intensity. Such mixtures are largely used for
the purpose of photographing at night or in places where daylight has no access.
Serious objections however may be raised against their use, for
1. They are more or less explosive and sensitive to friction or concussion.
2. In combustion they give off a great quantity of smoke.
3. They easily deteriorate under the influence of moisture.
I have now found that mixtures, producing the same, if not better effects as
regards the illuminating power, and being in all other respects far superior to
the compounds described above, may be obtained by mixing:
Finely powdered magnesium and
A. Finely powdered silicic acid (by preference the natural material known as
infusorial earth."
Or, B. Finely powdered boric acid.
Or, C. Finely powdered anhydrous sulphate of lime.
Or, D. Finely powdered sulphate of baryta.
Or, E. Finely powdered anhydrous sulphate of magnesia (by preference the
calcinated mineral known as "Kieserit")."
Or, F. Finely powdered sulphate of strontian.
in suitable proportions, by preference equal parts of magnesium and one of the
substances named. Instead of only one of these substances A, B, C, D, E, F,
several of them may be used in composing the mixture, so as to arrive for
instance at the following formula:
Finely powdered metallic magnesium 1 part.
Finely powdered silicic acid 16 part.
Finely powdered boric acid / part.
Finely powdered anhydrous sulphate of lime 6 part.
Finely powdered sulphate of baryta 1 part.
Finely powdered anhydrous sulphate of magnesia ½ part.
Finely powdered sulphate of strontian ½ part.
While all these mixtures have in common that, they are not explosive, not
sensitive to friction or concussion, deliver in combustion only very little smoke,
do not easily deteriorate under the influence of moisture, burn very rapidly,
instantaneously, emit in combustion a great quantity of light of highest optical
and chemical intensity, mixtures A and B offer yet a special feature: When
compressed in a tube of suitable non-combustible material one end of which is

page_text: closed, the other being open but contracted, by preference so as to form a narrow
slit (as shown in the annexed drawing) and then when the contents of the tube
is ignited at the open contracted end, a broad and long sheet of brightest light
with scarcely any smoke is emitted. In this case the combustion is not instan
taneous; the emission of light lasts for some time and may be prolonged at wil
by adapting the size and proportions of the tube to the purpose, for which the
light is to be used.
As will readily appear from the foregoing, my invention offers the means of pro
ducing lighting material, which surpasses all similar compounds hitherto known
as it combines
closed, the other being open but contracted, by preference so as to form a narrow
slit (as shown in the annexed drawing) and then when the contents of the tub
is ignited at the open contracted end, a broad and long sheet of brightest ligh
with scarcely any smoke is emitted. In this case the combustion is not instan
taneous; the emission of light lasts for some time and may be prolonged at wil
by adapting the size and proportions of the tube to the purpose, for which th
light is to be used.
As will readily appear from the foregoing, my invention offers the means of pro
ducing lighting material, which surpasses all similar compounds hitherto known
as it combines
Highest emciency,
Practically smokeless combustion
Absence of explosive matter
Excellent keeping qualities
The possibility of using it at will for instantaneous or time illumination.
The new lighting material is to be used for photographic, signalling and kindred
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that wha
I claim is:
A new lighting material for photographic or signalling purposes, produced by
mixing finely powdered metallic magnesium with one or several of the following
substances
Finely powdered silicic acid.
Finely powdered boric acid.
Finely powdered anhydrous sulphate of lime
Finely powdered sulphate of baryta.
Finely powdered anhydrous sulphate of magnesia.
In suitable proportions, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 001 1
P D
2000
YORK SCHWARTZ.
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.