GB429039A - A process for the production of fibrous material - Google Patents

Abstract

Fibrous material suitable for working up with or without previous drying into shaped articles or leather substitutes is obtained by treating skin or hide in one or more stages with chemical swelling agents and disintegrating and teasing out the swollen mass in one or more stages, the degree of swelling and conditions of treatment being so determined that the resulting fibrous material contains at least 75 per cent of non-expressible water. The skin may be treated successively with alkaline and acid liquids, e.g. after swelling with milk of lime it is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid. The disintegration may be effected for instance by treating the swollen material first with spiked rollers, then teasing out and finally kneading. The disintegrated material may also be pressed through orifices or tubes of relatively large diameter further to comminute it. Materials for modifying the properties of the fibrous mass may be added before, during or after the disintegration, e.g. glycerine, fats, oils, wetting agents, binders, softening agents. Viscose and other cellulose derivatives, rubber dispersions, natural and artificial resins, wool, hair, artificial fibres, leather waste are examples of suitable additions. Shaping of the material into articles may be effected by extrusion through nozzles or by means of press rollers &c. Hardening or solidifying of the product may be effected by tanning agents such as aluminium salts, chromium salts, vegetable or synthetic tanning materials, aldehydes, or by drying. Dyestuffs may also be added. Specification 429,040 is referred to.ALSO:Fibrous material suitable for working up with or without previous drying into shaped articles or leather substitutes is obtained by treating skin or hide in one or more stages with chemical swelling agents and disintegrating and teasing out the swollen mass in one or more stages, the degree of swelling and conditions of treatment being so determined that the resulting fibrous material contains at least 75 per cent of non-expressible water. The skin may be treated successively with alkaline and acid liquids, e.g. after swelling with milk of lime it is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid. The disintegration may be effected for instance by treating the swollen material first with spiked rollers, then teasing out and finally kneading. The disintegrated material may also be pressed through orifices or tubes of relatively large diameter further to comminute it. Materials for modifying the properties of the fibrous mass may be added before, during or after the disintegration, e.g. glycerine, fats, oils, wetting-agents, binders, softening agents. Viscose and other cellulose derivatives, rubber dispersions, natural and artificial resins, wool, hair, artificial fibres, leather waste are examples of suitable additions. Shaping of the material into articles may be effected by extrusion through nozzles or by means of press rollers &c. Hardening or solidifying of the product may be effected by tanning agents such as aluminium salts, chromium salts, vegetable or synthetic tanning materials, aldehydes, or by drying. Dyestuffs may also be added. Specification 429,040 is referred to.