Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Elaterite or Elastic Bitumen to be Employed in Road Making, Roof Surfacing, and other like Purposes and Uses.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 4th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th July, 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by FERDINAND WALLBREOHT, Counsel of Architecture
of Hanover, and HENRICH RUSSE, Chemist, of Linden von Hanover, Germany.]
Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Elaterite or Elastic
Bitumen to be Employed in Road Making, Roof Surfacing, and
other like Purposes and Uses.
I, WALTER BRIERLEY of Halifax in the County of York Patent Agent do hereby
declare that I am in possession of an invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF ARTIFICIAL ELATERITE OR ELASTIC BITUMEN TO BE EMPLOYED IN ROAD MAKING
ROOF SURFACING AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES AND USES:
The Elaterite is found in its natural state principally in the regions of volcanic
origin, and forms a soft and elastic bitumen (mineral caoutchouc), formed under the
influence of a high or volcanic temperature from the liquid bitumen or naphtha.
This natural Elaterite mixed with the asphaltum substance, probably sand, and with
lime, stone, layer sof native asphaltum or solid bitumen, which is suitable to be pressed,
stamped or rammed.
The reduction of the liquid bitumen or naphtha into Elaterite or the changing of
the liquid into a state of caoutchouc, is therefore for the industry of solid bitumen of
a real and important value.
This reduction is accomplished in a very easy manner by operating or acting upon
the liquid bitumens or naphthas, which generally resist chemical influences, by certain
quantities of Vegetable Oils, or fatty or sebacic acids and by treating the resulting
products by the aid of heat and pressure with sulphur, chemical products of sulphur,
nitric acid or other chemical products, which produces chemically the oxydation of
fatty substances etc. For this purpose I deliver at first the liquid bitumens by
heating them to about 250 degrees Celsius from the volatile oils.
I operate this heating of the liquid bitumens, delivered from their volatile oils and
mixed with vegetable Oils viz: fatty acids and with the chemical agents, serving for
the reduction of the naphtha into Elaterite, in a caldron of sufficient contents, of

page_text: stone ware or of iron, which may be provided advantageously with a mechanical
stirring rake, and which may be heated directly by fire or by steam pipes.
In practice it has been proved that a mixing of Naphtha etc. with drying Oils, and
an addition of a quantity of sulphur to it, seems the most advantageous.
The proportion of this drying Oils and sulphur, varies according to the quality of
liquid bitumen employed. It is also advantageons to maintain the temperature, by
stirring the mass constantly to about 130 till 140 degrees Celsius, and to raise the heat
toward the end of the operation to about 150 degrees Celsius. I do not advise
this point of heat, to be exceeded because the quality of the product would become less.
The said product has the form of an elastic resin, sort of caoutchouc, soft, spongious,
gluey, a substance which corresponds entirely with the Elaterite of the pressed or
rammed asphaltic mastic now in use.
The attempts made with this artificial Elaterite to produce a powdered asphaltum,
which can be pressed, stamped or rammed, have produced satisfying results. By mix-
ing with care artificial Elaterite with powdered permeable limestone and pure asphaltum,
such as there are the proportions of the solid native bitumen (by adding resinous
and mineral substances) in large cylinders or other suitable apparatus, under the
influence and the action of a heat of about 130-140 degrees Celsius, there is obtained
an asphaltic product, which becomes fit for being pressed and rammed. This artificial
product can be pressed, having been heated before and becomes then hard, and the
same becomes a powder again, by heating the pressed and stamped mass.
The so prepared asphaltic mastic will be compressed easily, it is of a very strong
resistance against friction and also against all atmospheric influences, it can be placed in
regard to its quality beside the best native Asphaltum for pressed work such as
pavings, roofings etc.
You can improve the quality of the so called smelting asphaltic mastix and render
it more resistant, by adding to it a quantity of artificial Elaterite.
You may also improve the residue by the distillation of petroleum or from the
paraffine fabrication, serving for the making of smelting asphaltic mastix by adding
to it of this artificial Elaterite; this latter product would approach in its quality to
the known mineral Tar.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1886.
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Town Hall Buildings,
Halifax.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Elaterite or Elastic
Bitumen to be Employed in Road Making, Roof Surfacing, and
other like Purposes and Uses.
I, WALTER BRIERLEY of Halifax in the County of York, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention which invention has been communicated to me
from abroad by Ferdinand Wallbrecht, Counsel of Architecture of Hanover, and
Henrich Russe, Chemist of Linden von Hanover, Germany and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The Elaterite is found in its natural state principally in the regions of volcanic
origin, and forms a soft and elastic bitumen (mineral caoutchouc) formed under the
influence of a high or volcanic temperature from the liquid bitumen or naptha.
This natural elaterite when mixed with the asphaltun substance and with lime-
stone, layers of native asphaltum or solid bitumen, which is then ready for being
pressed, stamped or rammed.
The reduction of the liquid bitumen or naphta into elaterite or the changing of the
liquids into a state of caoutchouc is therefore for the industry of solid bitumen of a
real and important value.
This reduction takes place in a very easy manner, by operating or acting upon the
liquid bitumens or naphtas (which generally resists chemical influences) by certain
quantities (say 10 to 30 per cent. according to the resistance of the naphta) of vegetable
oils, to wit: castor oil, cotton-seed-oil, palm-oil, poppy-seed-oil, linseed-oil, hempseed-
oil, rape-seed-oil, nut oil. In lieu of the oils referred to the fatty or sebacic acids
corresponding may be used. By treating the obtained product under the influence
and with the aid of heat and pressure with chloride of sulphur, saltpeter or nitrous
acid 8 to 15 per cent., sulphur 10 to 25 per cent., atmospherical air quantum satis we
obtain a product ready for manufacturing. These chemical substances will produce
the oxydation of fatty substances.
For the purpose of reduction we deliver at first the liquid bitumens by heating them
to about 250 degrees Celsius from the volatile oils, because they would prejudice the
proceeding of the reduction.
We perform the heating of the liquid bitumens freed from their volatile oils and
mixed with vegetable oils-viz. fatty acids and with the chemical agents (serving for
the reducting of the naphta into elaterite) in a caldron of sufficient size made of
stone, or of iron, which may be heated by fire or by steam pipes.
By practice it has been proved, that a mixing of naphta with drying oils and an
addition of a quantity of sulphur to it seems to be the most advantageous.
The additions of these drying oils and sulphur vary according to the quality of
liquid bitumen employed.
It is also advantageous to maintain the temperature in stirring the mass constantly
from about 130 to 140 degrees Celsius, and to raise the heat toward the end of the

page_text: operation to about 150 degrees Celsius. We do not advise this point of heat to be
exceeded, because the quality of the product would become inferior.
The so obtained product has the form of an elastic resin sort of caoutchouc, soft
spongeous, glueing substance, which corresponds entirely with the elaterite of the
pressed or rammed asphalt mastic now in use.
The attempts made with this artificial elaterite to produce a powdered asphaltum,
which can be pressed and stamped, have rendered satisfactory results. By mixing
carefully artificial claterite 4 to 8 per cent. with powdered permeable limestone 84 to
92 per cent. and pure asphaltum 4 to 8 per cent., such as there are the proportions of
the solid native bitumen (event produced by adding resinous and mineral substances)
in drums or other suitable apparatus under the influence and the action of a heat of
about 130 to 140 degrees Celsius, you will obtain an asphaltic product which becomes
fit for being pressed or rammed. This artificial product can be pressed, having been
heated before, and then become hard, and the same becomes a powder again by heating
the pressed and stamped mass taken back again from its place.
The so prepared asphaltic mastic may be compressed easily, it is of a very strong
resistance against friction and also against all atmospheric influences; it can be placed
in regard of its quality beside the best native asphaltum for pressed work such as
pavings, roofings and such like uses. You can improve the quality of the so called
smelting asphaltic mastic and render it more resistant by adding to it a quantity of
artificial elaterito. Smelting asphaltic mastic (made from the residues of the distillation
of petroleum or from the paraffine fabrication) would approach in its quality to the
known mineral-tar by adding to it artificial elaterite of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim is :
Firstly: The manufacture of elaterite; that is to say-a soft and elastic bitumen
(mineral substanco) from liquid bitumens or naphtas by mixing them with vegetable
oils, or fatty or sebacic acids of vegetable origin, and by heating this mixture when
under pressure with sulphur, chemical products of sulphur, nitric acid, or other
ingredients operating the oxydation as herein fully described.
Secondly: The employment and application of the so prepared elaterite for the
obtaining of a material for pressed or stamped asphaltic mastic work, for pavings and
roofings, by mixing the elaterite with asphaltum or asphalt substance and powdered
limestone, with or without addition of minerals, and by heating the mass and treating
it effectually under pressure as herein described.
Dated this Third day of March 1887