Important: Safety Warning
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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White oxide of tin
This mordant has enabled the moderns greatly to surpass many of the ancients, in the fineness of their colours; and even to equal the famous Tyrian purple; and by means of it scarlet, the brightest of all colours is produced. it is the white oxide of tin, alone, which is the real mordant. Tin is used as a mordant in three states; dissolved in nitro-muriatic acid, in acetous acid, and in a mixture of sulphuric and muriatic acids: but nitro-muriate of tin is the common mordant used by dyers. They prepare it, by dissolving tin in diluted nitric acid, to which a certain proportion of common salt, or sal ammoniac is added.
When the nitro muriate of tin is to be used as a mordant, it is dissolved in a large quantity of water, and the cloth is dipped in the solution, and allowed to remain till sufficiently saturated. It is then taken out, washed and dried. Tartar is usually dissolved in the water along with the nitro muriate.