A New or Improved Substitute for Leather and Process of Preparing same

12,553. McLaurin, W. W. June 4. Coated fabrics -Relates to a substitute for leather, applicable for use in the boot, shoe slipper, upholstery, and fancy leather trades, or for bookbinding, box-making, &c. The material which constitutes the foundation of the artificial leather is "vellum cloth," composed of felted fibres intermixed with india-rubber. For the purpose of producing an artificial leather of a red or crimson colour, the following process is employed :-The vellum cloth is coated on the face with a solution of scarlet aniline dye, croceine 9B; and lactarine, and on the back with a similar solution stronger in lactarine. The face is next coated twice with a mixture of scarlet lake, cerise lake, rhodamine, aniline, size, and glycerine, and afterwards receives two coatings of an aqueous solution of lactarine with glycerine. The various coatings are waterproofed with a solution of formaldehyde containing glycerine, or with chrome alum. The finishing process comprises friction glazing, embossing, rolling, calendering, &c. The material may be mounted on plain vellum cloth, paper, or boards, or two sheets may be united with the grain crossed. Gelatine, glue, " gloy," shellac, &c. may be used together with or in place of lactarine, and a deliquescent salt may replace the glycerine. Oil, water, or spirit varnishes may also be employed.