LINOLEUM (Neo-Lat., from Lat. Haut, flax olcum, oil). A peculiar preparation of linseed oil in which the latter is so treated that it be comes solid. This was first accomplished by using sulphur, but it was subsequently ascer tained that the same effect could be secured by niere oxidization. Oil so treated is useful for many purposes. As a paint, it may be em ployed on iron, on wood, and on ships' bottoms. %iten used as a cement it possesses some of the useful properties of marine glue. When yid eağized or hardened by heat it may be filed, planed, turned. carved, and polished like wood, and used for knife and fork handles, moldings, etc. When brought by certain processes to the consistency of dough or putty, it may be pressed into embossed molds for ornamental articles.
The floor-covering known as linoleum is made by mixing the linoleum cement with ground cork. The cork used is chiefly the waste from the manufacture of bottle-corks. (See CORK.)
The linoleum cement is prepared by pouring suc cessive layers of boiled linseed oil over a thin cotton fabric called scrim, which is allowed to dry thoroughly between the applications of the oil. The operation of drying takes about twenty four hours, and the oil is applied daily for six or eight weeks. By this time the oxidized oil is about one-half an inch thick and is called a skin. These skins are cut down and ground between rollers and then thoroughly mixed with resin and kauri gum. The powdered cork is next added, and if the linoleum is to be plain. coloring mat ter is also added. This mixture is then applied to jute burlap and the fabric passed between rollers to even off the surface. The pattern is printed in the same manner as upon oilcloth C'onsult History and Manufacture of Floor Cloths York, 1898).