ARTIFICIAL

LEATHER  . Under the name of artificial is considerable diversity in the preparation of such materials . A common variety consists of a web of calico coated with boiled linseed oil mixed with dryers and lamp-black or other pigment . Several coats of this mixture are uniformly spread, smoothed and compressed on the cotton surface by passing it between metal rollers, and when the surface is required to possess a glossy enamel-like appearance, it receives a finishing coat of copal varnish . A grained morocco surface is given to the material by passing it between suitably embossed rollers . Preparations of this kind have a close affinity to cloth waterproofed with indiarubber, and to such manufactures as ordinary waxcloth . An artificial leather which has been patented and proposed for use as soles for boots, &c., is composed of powdered scraps and cuttings of leather mixed with solution of guttapercha dried and compressed . In place of the guttapercha solution, oxidized linseed oil or dissolved resin may be used as the binding medium for the leather powder .