Such different matches: the composition of the match head

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 13:48

A match is a small wooden stick with a hardened mixture of flammable chemicals at one end. When it is rubbed against the side surface of the box, both contacting surfaces are heated. Enough heat is generated to cause a small flame.

Wood requirements

Wood for making matches must be porous enough to absorb the required amount of chemicals, and flexible so as not to break when rubbed against the boxes. At the same time, it should be easy to handle. These conditions are best met by aspen and white pine.

In Russia, mainly aspen grater safety matches are produced. They require a box side surface coated with a special composition of chemicals to ignite.

Production process

First, blanks are made from wood - sticks of a certain length and section. Next, the so-called straws are soaked in a solution of ammonium phosphate. This is done to prevent smoldering after the burning of the incendiary head, as the match head is called. After drying and sandingworkpieces are installed in the matrix of the transport drum, with the help of which all subsequent operations of industrial production are performed.

The blanks are heated and one end is dipped in paraffin. When ignited, it will provide a small amount of additional fuel for combustion, so that the flame generated by friction is sufficient to ignite the match. Once the paraffin fumes have burned off, the ammonium phosphate impregnated in the straw will prevent further burning. An adhesive mixture of the chemical composition of the match head is applied on top.

Grating matches

They ignite only when the head is rubbed against the side of the box specially designed for ignition. The composition of the chemicals has remained unchanged since the invention of the Swedish match in 1855: sulfur, potassium chlorate (Bertolet s alt KClO_{3), manganese oxide (pyrolusite) and fine glass powder.}

These are the main components that provide combustion. Bertoletova s alt is an oxidizing agent, a supplier of oxygen, without which the flame will quickly go out. Pyrolusite is used to slightly reduce the temperature of the flame. Sulfur is highly flammable and supports combustion. Glass powder is added to increase friction.

The composition of the match head changed during this time only in a quantitative ratio, mainly due to the addition of inert materials to control the burning rate: zinc white, chrome peak. The mixture also includes animal glue, which holds all the components together. Sometimes water-soluble dyes are added.

Compositionmixtures on the side of the box: antimony sulfide and red phosphorus, to which inert substances are also added so that when one match is lit, the entire box does not flare up. It can be the same glass powder, gypsum, kaolin, red lead.

Combustion chemical reaction

Conditionally, the chemical reaction of ignition of a match during friction against the boxes can be expressed by the equation

16KClO₃ + 3P₄ С₃ 16 Kcl + 9 SO 2.

The main chemical elements are berthollet s alt, which is part of the match head, and red phosphorus, the reaction releases sulfur dioxide with a characteristic odor.

And without a box to ignite?

If certain conditions are met, a match can be ignited by rubbing against a surface not covered with a special composition for the box. For this, a different chemistry of the match head is used.

Starless - that's what they are called. They are able to ignite when rubbed against any rough surface. They are produced in the USA and England, mainly for military needs, under the name strike anywhere. What matches are made of, which are often shown in American films, is of interest to many.

The ignition head is made from two different formulations of chemicals and contains P4S3 phosphorus sesquisulfide, a non-toxic compound with sulfur.

A glue mixture of sulfur, Bertolet s alt, rosin, antimony trisulfide, phosphorus sesquisulfide and inert and stabilizing components is applied directly to the paraffin-soaked straw.

After drying the baselayer on the incendiary head, the top layer of the composition of the match head is applied, containing the same components, but in different proportions: a greater amount of phosphorus sesquisulfide, berthollet s alt, fine glass powder.

When the ignition head is rubbed with heat, the highly reactive chemical ignites with a blue flame and ignites the rest of the ignition head components.

In addition to the familiar household matches (in five-centimeter boxes), matches are produced designed for specific purposes:

• fireplace and gas - larger for ease of use;
• for kindling cigars and pipes;
• household - in large packages;
• all-weather - for lovers of extreme types of recreation; ignite even in the most adverse weather conditions;
• signal - burn bright, from a distance noticeable flame; magnesium is added to the composition of the match head mixture.