Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Blocks or Masses of Cork, Pith, and other Light Substances.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1891
'Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 4th June, 1882
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Blocks or
Masses of Cork, Pith, and other Light Substances.
1, Dr. CARL GRÜNZWEIG of Ludwigshafen Rhein, Germany, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has reference to the manufacture of blocks, pieces or masses
(hereinafter called blocks) of cork, pith of plants, wood, vegetable fibres, paper
and other similar light substances, and consists in the use as a binding agent for
holding pieces of the said substances together to form blocks of an aqueous
emulsion of clay (of the greatest possible fatness) with tar.
This emulsion when
applied to the surface of either of the substances mentioned, even in very thin
layers, is capable of producing an extremely firm material capable of resisting
water.
'Substances of the kind mentioned when mixed or treated with the said binding
agent and then moulded and dried, form a block possessing very great resistance
to absorption of water and having a specific weight of from about 0-2 to 0.25
according to the nature of the substance of which the block is mainly composed.
It is to be understood that tar of various kinds can be used for the purpose
mentioned; also that mineral or other oil or resin soaps can be employed as a
substitute for tar.
DL: 11th 1..1 1901
C. GRÜNZWEIG,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Blooks or
Masses of Cork, Pith, and other Light Substances.
I, Dr. CARL GRÜNZWEIG of Ludwigshafeu Rhine, Germany, Manufacturer,
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 :-
"This invention has reference to the manufacture of blocks pieces or masses
(hereinafter called blocks) of cork, pith, wood, vegetable fibres, peat, paper and
other similar light substances. It is well known that bodies which are insoluble in
water, such as oils, fats, and gum resins, can by grinding and mixing the same with
a mucilaginous substance such as gum, sugar, yolk of eggs or the like, be mixed
with water, so called emulsions being thus obtained in which finely divided 'fat
particles are held in suspension. An emulsion of tar may be formed in a similar
manner.
In lieu of using an organic mucilaginous substance a finely divided mineral or
inorganic substance for examples as clay, quicklime, gypsum, magnesia, and
infusorial earth finely ground in water, can also be used in the production of the
emulsions.
Emulsions obtained by these means after being dried at a high temperature
(but not exceeding say 160° C.) for the purpose of expelling the volatile
constituents thereof, form solid olastic masses. As emulsions are unaffected by, or
are capable of resisting the action of liquids, as for example water, they are
peculiarly adapted for use as binding agents, particularly for vegetable bodies.
Thus it has been found that an emulsion made for instance with tar and clay is an

page_text: excellent binding agent for cork. Now according to this invention small quantities
of such an emulsion are used to unite small pieces of cork or other similar light
material such as hereinbefore mentioned the mixture forming a plastic mass, which,
is moulded to the desired shape and then thoroughly dried at a temperature not
exceeding say 160° C. or thereabout.
In carrying out my invention one part by weight of clay is mixed with about
8 parts by weight of water so as to form a uniform thin paste or cream, thon
about th part by weight of tar, as for example wood tar, brown coal tar, or
ordinary coal tar, preferably the latter on account of its cheapness is added to the
mixture of water and clay and the whole is agitated by a suitable stirring device
until the emulsion thus obtained becomes of a bluish white milk-like color. About
40 parts by weight of this emulsion are intimately mixed with about 220 parts by
weight of pulverized cork and the resulting mass is moulded and dried at a high
temperature as stated, whereby volatile parts of the tar are driven off with the water.
By this means there is obtained a material consisting of cork and clay containing
the finely divided solid portion of the tar.
The material thus obtained is in many respects similar to natural cork, but has
certain qualities which render it superior to the latter for some purposes.
The product is tough and elastic like cork, and like the latter is a bad conductor
of heat, but unlike cork it is not hygroscopic and does not shrink when moderately
heated which property is of considerable importance when the material is to be
employed for preventing the conduction or radiation of heat. The material may
be formed into blocks of any suitable size or into planks or strips of any desired
length and thickness, which, after drying, are capable of being worked like
wood, while cork can be obtained only in pieces of determined and comparatively
Bmall size.
The new material can also be employed for building purposes in the same manner
as ordinary building bricks or stone, as it adheres to mortar and other plastering
materials, and in some cases it may on account of its strength, low specific gravity,
and small conductivity for heat, advantageously replace ordinary building bricks
and stone.
It is to be understood that tar of various kinds can be used for the purpose
mentioned; also that mineral or other oils, resin, wax, or a resin soap can be
employed as a substitute for tar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
The manufacture of blocks or masses of cork, pith, wood and other similar light
substances such as herein before referred to, by mixing pieces of the said cork or
other similar light substance with an emulsion consisting of water, a mineral or
inorganic substance such as clay, lime, gypsum, magnesia, or infusorial earth, and
tar, mineral oil, fat oil, resin, wax, or a resin soap, moulding the plastic mass thus
obtained into blocks or masses of suitable shape, and drying the same at a
temperature not exceeding say 160° C. or thereabout for the purpose of expelling
the aqueous and volatile constituents of the mass substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of April 1892.
C. GRÜNZWEIG,
By L. W., per F. B.