US2805116A

US2805116A - Process for increasing the filling power of land fowl feathers by digestion with acids and precipitating inorganic metal salts and feathers produced therefrom

Info

Publication number: US2805116A
Application number: US467266A
Authority: US
Inventors: Patrick A Florio
Original assignee: Mohasco Industries Inc
Current assignee: Mohasco Industries Inc
Priority date: 1954-11-08
Filing date: 1954-11-08
Publication date: 1957-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1974-09-03

Description

P 3, 1957 v P. A. FLORIO 2,805,116

PROCESS FOR INCREASING THE FILLING POWER OF LAND FOWL FEATHERS BY DIGESTION WITH ACIDS AND PRECIPITATING INORGANIC METAL SALTS AND FEATHERS PRODUCED THEREFROM Filed Nov. 8, 1954 /5(5A e5uLj 3 (5/1195) WY INVENTOR FATE/(K .A. H E

ATTORN EY Patrick A. Florin, Elrnhurst, N. Y., assignor to Mohasco Industries, Inc, a corporation of New York Application November 8, 1954, Serial No. 467,266

14 Claims. (Cl. 894.10)

This invention relates to a process for improving the characteristics of all types of feathers and more particularly to a process for treating land fowl feathers to increase the filling power thereof.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co- ;pending application Serial No. 288,491, filed May 17,

.1952, for Process for Treating Keratinaceous Fibers, ,now abandoned.

An object of the invention is to make land fowl feathers suitable for use in place of water fowl feathers .as a filler for mattresses and pillows, as an insulating medium for clothing, and for other uses wherein water fowl feathers have heretofore been considered to be superior.

The filling power is defined as the specific volume of a given weight of the material under a predetermined light load.

Another object is to produce a land fowl feather in which the quill and the rachises are curled and the barbs project outwardly from the rachises as in a natural Water fowl feather.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.

in accordance with this invention it has been found that a chemical treatment of feathers with certain inorganic acids and salts, followed by the steps of neutralization, washing and drying in a non-constrained state, produces the desired results. It is believed that the steps of digestion and neutralization, by the mechanism of swelling and deswelling, serve to release the internal stresses which allow the feather to curl vand the barbs to open up while drying in non-restrained condition. The curling tendency is enhanced by the metal ions which are absorbed within the feather during digestion and remain after washing to assist in holding the feather in its new form.

The drying must be carried out with the feathers in unconstrained state in view of the fact that minute internal forces are involved which would be ineffective if the fibers were physically restrained from deforming as by the weight of a substantial layer of such feathers. Tumble type drying in an apparatus similar to a kiln or drying in an air stream under conditions to separate and float the feathers have been found satisfactory.

Various non-oxidizing inorganic acids may be used, for example, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, or hydrochloric acid, in combination with a water soluble inorganic salt such as an alum or a compound containing an alum complex, sulfates, dichromates and phosphates, or mixtures thereof.

Patented Sept. 3, 1957 Examples of such salts are set forth in the following table:

TABLE A (Alum) aluminum sulfate Sodium aluminum sulfate Potassium aluminum sulfate Ammonium aluminum sulfate Magnesium sulfate Copper sulfate Chromic sulfate Potassium dichromate Sodium dichromate Calcium phosphate Ferric phosphate Example 'I A digesting solution is made up consisting of 30 parts by weight of alum A12(SO4)3.14H2O, technical grade, 32 parts by Weight of 66 B. sulphuric acid and 3000 parts of water. The temperature of the solution is adjusted to between 95 F. and 105 F. 60 parts of chicken feathers, having a fillingpower equal to 3 5% ofthat of an equal weight of duck feathers are added to the digesting solution and the whole mass agitated. The pH of the digesting mixture ranges. from 0.1 to 0.85 at the start. The digestion is continued at the above temperature for one-half hour. At the end of this time, neutralization is effected while maintaining the mixture at the same temperature by the slow addition of soda ash (NazCOs) until the solution becomes milky in appearance (pH about 4.6) due to the precipitation of sodium sulphate and aluminum hydroxide. Further addition of soda ash beyond this point would cause excessive and undesirable deposition of inorganic salts.

The same temperature is maintained for another onehalf hour in order to bring the feathers to the same pH as the liquor, making a total of one and one quarter hours for the procedure. At the end of this period the liquid is drained off and the feathers are washed with water until the wash water becomes clear. The'feathers are then centrifuged to remove most of the water, and dried in a non-constrained conditionrin. an air stream within'a'rotating tumble type drier. During the drying the feathers assumed a curled form with fluffy, freeacting barbs as described below and were found to, have a filling power equal to that of duck feathers.

The following table shows results obtained, using the above technique with diflerent quantities of HzSOrand alum. For purposes of comparison, duckfeathers are considered as having filling power. Filling power of untreated chicken feathers was 35%.

TABLE C Parts Percent Example Parts Acid Parts Salt Water Filling Power 4H2SO4 4138804 92 90 Treatment of duck fetathers according to the procedure outlined in Example I further improved the filling power to 124% of their original-value.

The amount of solution needed for asatisfactory treatment may be varied, namely 60 parts'of feathers to 3000 parts of water may be changed to-less water or more water depending on the ease of agitation.

The temperature of digestion can be varied from room temperature to 185 F., the lower temperature being preferred. The time of treatment can likewise be varied-with shorter times at higher temperatures and longer times at lower temperatures, with treatment corresponding in severity to one-half hour at 85 F. to 120? F. being preferred. Temperatures higher than 185 F. should be avoided since the feathers become increasingly brittle and powdery.-

The digesting mixture may be drained at the end of the digestion step and the neutralization of the feathers effected with the addition of enough fresh soda ash solution 'at 105. F.-to cause the milky appearance heretofore mentioned and due tothe precipitation of sodium sulphate and aluminum hydroxide. The same temperature is maintained for another half hour, after which the feathers are washed and dried as above.

Other common alkaline materials may be used in place of soda ash such as sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, or sodium silicate.

The feathers treated as above showed a marked increase in flutfiness. The quills and rachis curled and the barbs were extended outwardly to produce an effect similar to water fowl feathers as shown in the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an'elevation of a typical chicken feather prior Fig. 3 is a greatly eiilarged partial section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 4 is a similar enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a microscopic view of a barb and barbule of a typical chicken feather. V

In the drawings the quill is indicated at 10 with the rachis 11 projecting outwardly therefrom on both sides. The rachises 11 are stiff and regular at the quill giving a typical ladder effect as indicated at 12.

, It will be noted that the quill 10 of Figs. 1 and 3 is substantially straight and that the rachises 11 extend from opposite sides thereof substantially in a single plane although the direction of the rachis es may vary according to the location of the feather on the fowl and may'also vary from the baseto the top of the-feather. a

The rachises l1 carry barbs 13:which;normal lyf 1 ie along the rachises a's shownin Fig.-3.--

'After tre'atmeng'as in Figs. 2 and4;the"qull"10 is 4 curled and the rachises 11 are variously bent and curled in various directions around the quill and the barbs 3 are raised and extend outwardly generally normal to the rachises as in a typical duck feather. This effect is particularly marked near the base of the quill.

The treated chicken feather of Figs. 2 and 4 is similar in flufliness and softness and appearance to a duck feather and is suitable for such uses as filling for pillows, sleeping bags or the like. It is distinguishable from duck feathers by reason of the ladder effect 12 and the circular nodes 14 on the barbules 15 which extend from the barbs 13, as shown in Fig. 5.

A discussion of the structure of a typical chicken feather as distinguished from a duck feather is given in an article by Laconti and Bailey entitled Fundamental Studies of Property of Feathers and Down, in the January 1954 issue of Pioneering Research Laboratory, Quartermaster Depot, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That article describes the round nodes on the barbules of a chicken feather as distinguished from the flat triangular shaped trows on the barbules of a duck feather and which provide a means for identifying the chicken feathers treated in accordance with the present process even though the general appearance as to shape and fluftiness may be substantially the same as that of a typical duck feather.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl, which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, at a pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of an acid selected from the group consisting of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and phosphoric acid, and a watersoluble inorganic metal salt selected from the group consisting. of alums, sulphates of iron, magnesium, copper and chromium, dichromates of sodium and potassium, phosphates of calcium and iron, cupric chloride and mixtures of said inorganic metal salts, at a temperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half hour under such conditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing the feathers with an alkaline substance in an amount sufficient to given the solution a milky appearance due to the precipitation of the inorganic metal salts, washing the feathers and drying the feathers while non-constrained to permit the feathers to curl and fluff due to the internal stresses developed therein.

2. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl, which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, at a pH of from 0.1 to 0.85,

of an acid selected from the group consisting of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and phosphoric acid, and

I a water-soluble inorganic metal salt selected from the organic metal salts, washing the feathers, centrifuging the feathers to remove the bulk of water therefrom, and drying the feathers while non-constrained to permit the feathers to curl ,and fluff due to the internal stresses developed therein.

' 3. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl, which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, at a pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of an acidjselected from the group consisting of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and phosphoric acid, and a water-soluble inorganic metal salt selected from the group consisting of alums sulphates of iron, magnesium, copper and chromium, dichromates of sodium andpotassium,. phosphates of calcium and iron, cupric chloride and mixtures of said inorganic metal salts, at a temperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about onehalf hour under such conditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing the feathers with an alkaline substance in an amount suflicient to give the solution a milky appearance due to the precipitation of the inorganic metal salts, washing the feathers and drying the feathers while suspended in an air stream to permit the feathers to curl and fluff due to the internal stresses developed therein.

4. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl, which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, at a pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of sulphuric acid and an alum at a temperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half hour under such conditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing the feathers with soda ash in an amount sufficient to give the solution a milky appearance due to the precipitation of inorganic metal salts, washing the feathers and drying the feathers while non-constrained to permit the feathers to curl and fluff due to the internal stresses developed therein.

5. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl, which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, at a pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of sulphuric acid and ferric sulphate at a temperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half hour under :such conditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing the feathers with soda ash in an amount :sufficient to give the solution a milky appearance due to the precipitation of inorganic metal salt, washing the feathers and drying the feathers while non-constrained to permit the feathers to curl and fluff due to the internal stresses developed therein.

6. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl, which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, at a pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of sulphuric acid and magnesium sulphate at a temperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half .hour under such conditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing the feathers with soda ash in an amount sufiicient to give the solution a milky appearance due to the precipitation of inorganic metal salt, washing the feathers and drying the feathers while non-constrained to permit the feathers to curl and fluff due to the internal stresses developed therein.

7. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl, which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, at a pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of hydrochloric acid and cupric chloride at a temperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half hour under such conditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing the feathers with soda ash in an amount suflicient to give the solution a milky appearance due to the precipitation of inorganic metal salt, washing the feathers and drying the feathers while non-constrained to permit the feathers to curl and flufi due to the internal stresses developed therein.

8. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl, which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, at a pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of phosphoric acid and sodium dichromate at a temperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half hour under such conditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing the feathers with soda ash in an amount sufficient to give the solution a milky appearance due to the precipitation of inorganic metal salt, washing the feathers and drying the feathers while non-constrained to permit the feathers to curl and fluff due to the internal stresses developed therein.

9. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 1 having a quill, rachis, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, said quill and rachis being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generally normal to said rachis, said feather having a fiufiiness and filling power generally equivalent to that of a duck feather.

10. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 4 having a quill, rachises, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, said quill and rachises being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generally normal to said rachises, said feathers having a fiufiiness and filling power generally equivalent to that of a duck feather.

11. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 5 having a quill, rachises, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, said quill and rachises being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generally normal to said rachises, said feathers having a fluffiness and filling power generally equivalent to that of a duck feather.

12. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 6 having a quill, rachises, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, sai-d quill and rachises being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generally normal to said rachises, said feathers having a fluffiness and filling power generally equivalent to that of a duck feather.

13. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 7 having a quill, rachises, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, said quill and rachises being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generally normal to said rachises, said feathers having a fiuffiness and filling power generally equivalent to that of a duck feather. I

14. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 8 having a quill, rachises, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, said quill and rachises being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generally normal to said rachises, said feather having a flufiiness and filling power generally equivalent to that of a duck feather.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 12,102 Reynolds Dec. 19, 1854 505,141 Tausk Sept. 19, 1893 1,008,249 Elsasser Nov. 7, 1911 2,115,562 Orthmann Apr. 26. 1938 2,390,073 Calva Dec. 4, 1945 2,706,143 Florio Apr. 12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 468,845 Great Britain July 13, 1937 OTHER REFERENCES Progress in Leather Science 1920-1945, London, 1948, pp. 557-8.

Claims

1. A PROCESS FOR INCREASING THE FILLING POWER OF FEATHERS OF LAND FOWL, WHICH COMPRISES DIGESTING FEATHERS LAND FOWL IN AN ACID SOLUTION, AT A PH OF FROM 0.1 TO 0.85, OF AN ACID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SULPHURIC ACID, HYDROCHLORIC ACID AND PHOSPHORIC ACID, AND A WATERSOLUBLE INORGANIC METAL SALT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALUMS, SULPHATES OF IRON, MAGNESIUM, COPPER AND CHROMIUM, DICHROMATES OF SODIUM AND POTASSIUM, PHOSPHATES OF CALCIUM AND IRON, CUPRIC CHLORIDE AND MIXTURES OF SAID INORGANIC METAL SALTS, AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 95*F, TO 105*F. FOR ABOUT ONE-HALF HOUR UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS AS TO SWELL THE PROTEIN OF THE FEATHERS, NEUTRALIZING THE FEATHERS WITH AN ALKALINE SUBSTANCE IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO GIVEN THE SOLUTION A MILKY APPEARANCE DUR TO THE PRECIPITATION OF THE INORGANIC METAL SALTS, WASHING THE FEATHERS AND DRYING THE FEATHERS WHILE NON-CONSTRAINED TO PERMIT THE FEATHERS TO CURL AND FLUFF DUE TO THE INTERNAL STRESSES DEVELOPED THERREIN.