History of kyanising John Howard Kyan

1 history of kyanising

1.1 development
1.2 patents
1.3 publicity
1.4 applications
1.5 decline

history of kyanising
development

for time kyan employed @ vinegar works @ newcastle upon tyne, subsequently removed london, greaves s vinegar brewery in old street road. decay of timber supports in father s copper mines had directed attention question of preserving wood, , 1812 began experiments view discovering method of preventing decay. found bichloride of mercury or corrosive sublimate, commonly called, gave best results and, without revealing nature of process, submitted block of oak impregnated substance admiralty in 1828. placed in fungus pit @ woolwich, remained 3 years exposed conditions favourable decay. when taken out in 1831, found sound, , after further trials still remained unaffected.

patents

kyan patented discovery in 1832 (nos. 8263 , 6309), extending application of invention preservation of paper, canvas, cloth, cordage, etc. further patent granted in 1836 (no. 7001).

the preservative action of solution of bichloride of mercury known, , kyan s process merely consisted in submersion of timber or other materials in tank containing solution of corrosive sublimate in water. maintained inventor permanent chemical combination took place between mercurial salt , woody fibre, contested.

publicity

the process attracted great attention. faraday chose subject of inaugural lecture @ royal institution on 22 february 1833, on appointment fullerian professor of chemistry. dr. birkbeck gave lecture upon @ society of arts on 9 december 1834, , in 1835 admiralty published report of committee appointed board inquire value of new method. in 1836, kyan sold rights anti-dry rot company, act of parliament being passed authorised raising of capital of £250,000. tanks constructed @ grosvenor basin, pimlico, @ grand surrey canal dock, rotherhide, , @ city road basin. great things predicted of kyanising, process began called. witty writer in bently s miscellany january 1837 told how muses had adopted kyan s improvement preserve favourite trees. @ dinner given celebrate success attended experiment, song, became popular, first sung. opening verse runs:

have heard, have heard

anti-dry rot s word?

wood never wear out, kyan, kyan!

he dips in tank rafter or plank,

and makes immortal dian, dian!

applications

among applications of process kyanising of palings round inner circle, regent s park, carried out in 1835 advertisement, small brass plates being attached palings @ intervals stating wood had been submitted new process. plates disappeared, original palings still remain in condition.

the timber used in building oxford , cambridge club, british museum, royal college of surgeons, westminster bridewell, new roof of temple church, , ramsgate harbour works prepared kyan s process. when wooden railway sleepers ( ties in usa) became general (in place of stone blocks used on lines), profitable business kyan s company anticipated, , time these hopes realised.

the process applied ships timbers , sails. whaler john palmer received treated wood underwent repairs in 1833 , on return england pacific in 1837 master, captain elisha clark, wrote testimonial process.

decline

it became evident iron fastenings not used in wood treated corrosive sublimate, on account of corrosive action, , said wood became brittle. salt expensive , sir william burnett s method of preserving timber chloride of zinc, , afterwards application of creosote purpose, proved severe competitors. doubts began expressed real efficiency of kyanising (see proceedings of institution of civil engineers, 11 january 1853, pp. 206–243), , process gradually ceased employed.