GB484007A - Improvements in a process of and apparatus for making respirable artificial leather - Google Patents

Abstract

484,007. Agglutinated fibrous webs ; coated fabrics. TUFIDE PRODUCTS CORPORATION. Oct. 30, 1936, No. 29577. Convention date, Oct. 30, 1935. [Class 140] Respirable artificial leather is made by forming a dry, loosely fluffed layer of vegetable fibres, uniformly impregnating the layer with a binder and compacting the impregnated layer into a sheet by successive compression steps. The fibres may be cotton, linen, hennequin, sisal, hemp or wood pulp for example, sulphite, bleached sulphite, soda, or sulphate pulp or old rope or rag pulp. The preferred binder is rubber latex to which glue, ammonia, a volatile organic liquid, and formaldehyde may be added. Fish, hide, casein, blood or egg albumin glues may be used. The organic liquid contains alcohol and preferably consists of a mixture of ethyl and methyl alcohols, acetone, ethyl acetate and gasoline. The alcohol and formaldehyde are introduced into the latex-glue mixture immediately prior to spraying. The fibres are shredded in apparatus A comprising a drum 6 rotating in a housing 2, teeth 3, 8 being arranged on the inner surface of the housing and on the surface of the drum in staggered relationship. The thickness of the fibrous web discharged from the shredder is regulated by an adjustable inclined gate 17. The fibres are carried on an endless conveyer C, preferably a Fourdrinier wire, carried by drums 26, 27, 28 and passing through a cleaning liquid in a tank 32, under reciprocating spray nozzles 55. A second Fourdrinier wire 33 co-operating with the conveyer C passing over rolls 34, 35, 36 and through a cleaning liquid in a tank 41 serves to felt the fibres. It may be replaced by an absorbent belt or roller. The web is further compressed between adjustable rolls 75, 76 and surfacing material such as wood flour or ground fibres is dusted on to the partially dried web by cylinders 87 having internal agitators 90 which force the material through screened openings 88. The web is then passed on a chain conveyer 96 through a drying tunnel 104, heated electrically by coils I and evacuated by a pump 106. Volatile materials may be recovered in a condenser 107. Sets of adjustable rolls 108, 109 further compress the web, which is finally dried in a festoon drier K and calendered or embossed by rolls 125, 126, 127. The product may contain from 35 per cent to 80 per cent, preferably 50-65 per cent of fibre, and may be from “" to ¢" thick. It is suitable for wall and floor coverings and inner soles for footwear.