Improvements in Mucilages, Sizes, and Adhesive Compounds.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mucilages, Sizes, and Adhesive Compounds.
I, Charles Michael Higgins of 16S & 170 Eighth Street Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings, and State of New York, in the United States of America, Mann-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
MUCILAGES, SIZES AND ADHESIVE COMPOUNDS, and in what manner the same
s to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
My improved adhesive compound is formed of water, borax, dextrine and per-
oxide of hydrogen, and to the mucilage thus formed 1 sometimes add aqua ammonia,
or other alkali, as hereinafter set forth.
In forming this compound I first preferably heat the water to boiling, or nearly
so, and then add the borax, and when the same is dissolved, the dextrine is then
stirred in and the heat continued until the solution is fully effected. The borax
may be added after the dextrine, but I prefer the order named.
16
The proportions of these ingredients may vary considerably according to the
density of the mucilage required, but it is important that the borax used be a very
large fraction of the weight of the dextrine; for example the borax should be from
to of the weight of the dextrine. is about the saturating limit, while e is
about as low a fraction as will produce a practicable result. The proportions that
I have found best are:-equal parts of water and dextrine, and borax of the
dextrine, these parts being by weight.
When the solution of the three ingredients of water, borax and dextrine is
effected as described, it is allowed to cool to, say, between 60 to 100 F. and a large
volumetric fraction of peroxide of hydrogen, preferably to of the volume of
the mucilage, is then added gradually and stirred in gently until thoroughly mixed
with the mucilage. The peroxide used is preferably the commercial of full strength,
known as fifteen volumes. The mixture is then allowed to rest for some time to
clear and settle, and after a few days or weeks the clear supernatent liquid forming
the perfected mucilage may then be drawn off and bottled.
In this compound the borax seems to combine chemically with the dextrine, for
a very large fraction will remain in solution with the dextrine without crystallizing.
riz., an amount of borax equal toto of the dextrine, and it acts to produce a
much more perfect solution of the dextrine in the water, which will not afterwards
separate or precipitate in a flocculent or sedimentary form, as is the case with most
all the usual solutions of dextrine and water. The peroxide in the presence of the
borax also acts in an energetic chemical manner on the dextrine in solution, and its
effect is not only to render the solution very light-colored, hat it also acts to
perfectly clarify it, separating and precipitating a light flocculent matter which
soon settles and renders the mucilage very clear and transparent, and of a brilliant
light amber color, whereas all other dextrine solutions are murky and dirty in
appearance, and retain only a part of the dextrine in permanent solution. The
amount of the light flocculent matter thrown down by the action of the peroxide and
borax, as above described, is but a small fraction of the entire bulk of the dextrine,
perhaps not more than , all the rest of the dextrine being retained in a perfectly
transparent and dense solution, whereas ordinary dextrine solutions remain dark and
5 murky, and deposit a very large portion in a dense grayish sediment, which in my
compound is held in perfect solution.
In the formula which I have specified, it seems that a boron compound, or an
equivalent thereof, in connection with the peroxide of hydrogen, is essential to

page_text: produce the lightening and clarifying effect noted, for this effect cannot be obtained
if carbonate or bicarbonate of soda, or if any of the caustic alkalies are used in
place of the biborate of soda, but it can be produced when boracic acid is used in
place of the borax. It is probable therefore, that some other mild salt analogous
to borax, or an acid analogous to the boracic, will serve as an equivalent to the
borax in addition to the boracic acid.
It also seems to be essential to effect the full chemical combination of the dextrine
and borax, or its equivalent, that heat be employed in making the solution, and
usually a temperature of ninety degrees, Fahrenheit, or thereabouts. The prefer-
able range of temperature is between 150 degrees and the boiling point, which will
produce the best combination and solution, whereas a temperature materially below
90 degrees will not produce a perfect combination.
After the mucilage has become clear and settled, as described, I sometimes add
thereto a small portion of aqua ammonia, or other alkali, say, preferably, from
to of its volume of ammonia of 20 degrees, Baume, or of soda lye of 40 degrees,
by the same scale. This has the effect of greatly increasing the body or viscosity
of the mucilage, and improving its adhesiveness, and also prevents all mold or decay.
Other thickening or coagulating agents may be used, besides the caustic alkalies.
The alkaline salts and alum may be so used. The alkaline salts, however, such for
instance as carbonate of soda, have but a slight thickening effect. Alum, however,
when used with the alkalies, increases the thickening effect very decidedly. A
saturated aqueous solution of alum may be used for this purpose, preferably in a
volume equal to the volume of the alkali, but this proportion may vary. The alum
solution is preferably added first to the mucilage, and intimately stirred and the
alkaline solution is then stirred in, when a strong thickening effect takes place, the
mucilage becoming extremely viscous and adhesive. The alkaline solution may,
however, be added before the alum solution, but the effect is not so good.
Sometimes a second portion of the peroxide may be added after the mucilage
has become clear by the action of the first lot, which will have the effect to render
the mucilage still clearer and purer.
The general advantages claimed for this invention are that it enables a mucilage
of superior character both in appearance and qualities, to be produced from dextrine
as the sole adhesive basis, the product being equal, if not superior, in all respects
to that produced with natural gums, at much less cost. It entirely overcomes the
objections found heretofore in utilizing dextrine for this purpose, riz., the dark
murky appearance of the solution, the after separation in the solution, and the quick
decay in the same.
The improved mucilage is quite viscous, very quick in adhering and quick to
dry, not effected by atmospheric changes in moisture or temperature, non-corrosive
and bright and clean in appearance, transparent and wholly free from sediment,
and thus presents an important improvement in the art.
The mucilage herein described may of course be dried into a granular gum,
which can be dissolved in water as required. When thus dissolved, a little ammonia
can be added to the solution with the effect already described.
Either white or yellow dextrines may be used in this compound, preferably the
pale yellow dextrines. Glucose or grape sugar will combine and act almost pre-
cisely in the same manner as the dextrine, and hence might be considered as
equivalents and substitutes for the dextrine, but the sugars will not produce a good
mucilage, whereas the dextrine will. A mucilage made according to the method
herein described, with one of the sugars substituted for the dextrine, would be inferior
in adhesive power, and would be quite hygroscopic, whereas the described com-
position made with dextrine is a very quick dryer, and not at all susceptible to
atmospheric moisture.
My improved adhesive compound may also be used for sizing for paper or textile
fabrics also for kalsomine or other washes or paints, and for many similar uses
where a size, fixative, stiffening or adhesive substance is required.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. An adhesive compound composed of water, dextrine, a boron compound, and
peroxide of hydrogen, substantially as described.
2nd. An adhesive compound formed of water, a boron compound, dextrine,
peroxide of hydrogen, and an alkali or thickening agent, substantially as herein
set forth.
3rd. An adhesive compound formed of water, borax, dextrine, peroxide of
hydrogen and an alkali, substantially as herein set forth.
4th. An adhesive compound formed by first dissolving dextrine with a boron
compound in water, and then adding to this solution peroxide of hydrogen, and
allowing the mixture to clear and settle, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 29th day of December 1891
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULI,
Agents for the Applicant.