The Motalization of Wood.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1797, 12 January 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Motalization of Wood.

Les Mondet ieseribes the following process indented by Mr.'Bub«nnick for metallizing wood The wood is first immersed for three'or four days, according to its permeability, i* a caustic alkaline lye (calcareous soda) at a temperature of from 75 deg. to 90 deg. From thence it passes immediately iito a bath of hydrosulphite of calcium, to which is added after twenty-fonr or thirty-six hoars a concentrated solution of sulphur in caustic potash. TMe duration of this bath is about 48 hours, and its temperature is from 35 deg-. to "50 deg. Finally the wood is immersed for thirty or fifty hours in a-hofr solution (35 deg. to 50 deg.) of acetate of lead. The process, as may be seen, is a long one, brut the results are surprising. The wood thus prepared, after having undergone a*proper drying at'a moderate temperature, acquires under a burnisher of hard wood a polished surface, and assumes'a^ very brilliant metallic'lustre. This lustre is still further increased if the -surface of the iVood.be first rubbed with a piece of'lgad, tin, or zinc,,- and be = afterward polished'with a. glass or porcelain burnisher.: Thef%oo'd r thas* assumes the appearance of a true metallic minor, and is y«ry solid and resistant.