Today we are talking about ordinary matches. So simple, it would seem, but people have been going to their current form for a very long time. Before the advent of matches, people were forced to find all sorts of ways to make fire. The main thing has long been the friction of the tree against each other, with prolonged work, fire appeared. It was also possible to ignite dry grass or paper with a sunbeam through a kind of lens or glass, to knock out sparks with silicon or other similar stones. Then it was important to keep the fire and keep it going. For this, pieces of coal were often used.
The world's first matches - macanque matches
And only at the end of the 18th century everything changed. Claude Berthollet, a French chemist, as a result of experiments, obtained a substance that was later named Berthollet salt in his honor. As a result, in 1805 in Europe, people saw the so-called “dunk” matches. These were thin torches with heads that were smeared with bartholite salt. They were lit after being dipped in a solution of concentrated sulfuric acid.
Matches with Berthollet salt made at the factory
But the first real matches that did not require dipping appeared thanks to the English chemist and pharmacist John Walker. In 1827, he found that if a mixture of antimony sulfide, bartholite salt and gum arabic is applied to the tip of a wooden stick, and then the stick is dried in air, then when such a resulting match is rubbed against sandpaper, it easily ignites. That is, it was no longer necessary to carry a bottle of concentrated sulfuric acid with you (just imagine). D. Walker created a small factory for the production of his matches. He packed them in tin cases of 100 each. Such matches also had a significant drawback, they smelled very bad. The improvement of matches began.
In 1830, 19-year-old French chemist Charles Soria invented phosphorus matches. Their combustible part contained bartholite salt, phosphorus and glue. These matches were very convenient: friction on almost any hard surface, even the sole of a shoe, was enough for them to ignite. Soria's matches were odorless, but not everything went smoothly. The fact is that these matches were unhealthy, because white phosphorus is a poison.
Matches take on a modern look
Later, in 1855, another chemist, Johan Lundstrom from Sweden, decided to use red phosphorus. He applied it to the surface of sandpaper, but placed it on a small box, and then introduced red phosphorus from the composition and head of the match. It is safe for humans and the problem has been solved.
The appearance of the matchbox
And in 1889, Joshua Pucey came up with the familiar matchbox for all of us. But his invention was a little unusual for us: the incendiary surface was located inside the box. Therefore, the American firm Diamond Match Company managed to patent the box, which placed such a surface on the outside, which was undoubtedly much more convenient.
As for us, phosphorus matches were first brought to Russia from Europe in 1836, the price for them was one ruble silver per hundred, which was then relatively expensive. And the first Russian match factory was established in St. Petersburg in 1837.
With the advent of the first matches, humanity has finally mastered the ability to control fire like never before. With instant access to fire, cheap price, small size and reliable use, matches and lighters have enriched our history and lifestyle. The people who invented these wonderful devices were few and far between, but their efforts are still remembered in history as very important moments that changed the path of society, allowing it to develop more successfully. But not many people know the story of when matches were invented, who invented them today. This article aims to fill a knowledge gap.
The first matches ever made did not have the ability to create fire on their own, but were instead used to quickly increase smaller fire sources. Capturing the smallest spark, the sulfur-coated Chinese sticks burned brightly, which made it possible to quickly form a traditional fire. However, this method did not develop into something that can be used today.
Hennig Brandt
Hennig Brandt was the first chemist (he called himself an alchemist) to discover the properties of phosphorus in 1669. By discovering this substance and registering its properties, he allowed future scientists to use it in their projects and tests. Brandt himself was disappointed with the discovery of phosphorus and did not seek to develop it, instead wishing to find the secret to turning various metals into gold.
However, the young Parisian chemist Jean Chancel was very interested in inventing an easy and safe way to produce wooden matches. In 1805, he came up with a method to cause a strong chemical reaction that creates a fire. For the reaction, it was necessary to dip a wooden stick, which was coated with a mixture of potassium chlorate, sulfur, sugar and rubber, into an asbestos bottle, which was filled with sulfuric acid. Although his dangerous and toxic invention did not find much commercial use, it opened the door for other inventors to step up and try to find a more chemically acceptable solution to the match improvement problem.
This solution came from John Walker, an English chemist and apothecary, who in 1826 invented sulfur matches. He combined a mixture of sulfur and other materials that coated a wooden stick and strong phosphorus-coated paper. Striking a match between the folded paper, the sulfur ignited and the wand caught fire. Over the next few years, he managed to sell numerous matches of this design, but it became apparent that his chemical formula was not suitable for widespread use. Matches invented by Walker, burning out, left behind an unpleasant sulfur dioxide, while burning a whole sheaf of sparks flew out of them, and they were almost a meter (90 cm) long. The wand's gray tip often burned so intensely that it managed to detach itself from the wand, setting fire to the carpets and dresses of the people who used it.
John Walker
The invention did not bring Walker any money or fame. He did not want to patent his sulfur matches, although even Michael Faraday urged him to do this, but there was a resourceful boy Samuel Jones who managed to see that you can make good money here. He attended Walker's demonstrations and, based on them, created his own matches, which he called "Lucifer" and began to sell them. Matches, for all their shortcomings, were a success. They were packed in tin cases of 100 pieces each.
Matches "Lucifer"
Another great improvement in the history of matches came from the exploits of Charles Sauria, the chemist who was the first to introduce mixed white phosphorus into the match industry. Despite the fact that its mixture, created in the 1830s, was incredibly strong and highly flammable (even self-igniting), the toxicity of white phosphorus caused outrage among people and government officials who, after several decades of use, declared it banned. It got to the point that match factory workers acquired bone tissue necrosis. In those days, suicidal people even came up with a way to quickly commit suicide, they simply ate a few heads from Sauria's force matches.
Charles Sauria
The most popular match design was created by Swede Gustaf Eric Pasch (1788-1862), who, together with Johan Edvard Lundström, managed to create a safe design - an easy-to-use, cheap and non-toxic match that did not have the ability to self-ignite. By placing the phosphorus coating in a separate place, the little matches with their famous red heads instantly amazed the whole world.
Swedish matches
More than 500 billion matches are used every year, which would not have been possible without the efforts and ingenuity of all these scientists from our past.
In the video below you can see how modern matches are made:
This video explains and shows in detail how the combustion reaction of a match occurs:
Also, beautiful fiery dominoes are obtained from matches:
The first real matches were invented on April 10, 1833, when yellow phosphorus was introduced into the mass for match heads. It is this day that is considered the birthday of the first match.
In Russian, the word "match" is derived from the old Russian word "matches" - the plural form of the word "spoke" (a pointed wooden stick). Initially, this word denoted wooden nails that were used in the manufacture of shoes (for attaching the sole).
At first, the phrase “incendiary (or samogar) matches” was used to designate matches, and only after the widespread use of matches, the first word began to be omitted, and then completely disappeared from everyday life.
The work of the match factory "Victory" in the village of Verkhny Lomov. Photo: RIA Novosti / Julia Chestnova
What are matches made of?
Most match factories make them from aspen. In addition to this type of wood, linden, poplar and other trees are also used. A special machine for making matches can produce up to 10 million matches in an eight-hour working day.
Why do matches burn?
When we rub the match head against the wall of the box, a series of chemical reactions begin. The box is coated. It consists of red phosphorus, fillers and glue. When rubbed, the particles of red phosphorus turn into white, it heats up and lights up already at 50 degrees. The box lights up first, not the match. To prevent the spread on the box from burning all at once, phlegmatizers are introduced into its composition. They absorb some of the generated heat.
Half of the mass of the head is oxidizing agents, in particular Bertolet's salt. When decomposed, it easily releases oxygen. To lower the decomposition temperature of Berthollet salt, a catalyst, manganese dioxide, is added to the composition of the mass. The main combustible substance is sulfur. So that the head does not burn out too quickly and does not scatter into pieces, fillers are added to the mass: ground glass, zinc white, red iron. It's all tied together with different adhesives.
What are matches?
In addition to ordinary (household) matches, there are about 100 types of special matches that differ in size, color, composition and degree of burning.
The most common types are:
Storm - burn even under water and in the wind (wind, hunting);
Thermal - they can be soldered (welded), as they emit a large amount of heat;
Signal - capable of emitting a colored flame;
Fireplace and gas - long matches for kindling fireplaces and gas stoves;
Decorative (souvenir) - gift matches, often have a colored head;
Photographic - used to create an instantaneous flash.
Matches for the tourist. Photo: RIA Novosti / Anton Denisov
What are matches used for?
Matches are designed for:
Obtaining an open fire at home;
Ignition of a fire, furnaces, stoves, kerosene gas;
Lighting stearin and wax candles;
Lighting cigarettes, cigars, etc.
Matches are also used for other purposes:
For practicing applied arts in the construction of houses, castles, for making decorative crafts;
For hygienic purposes (for cleaning the ear canals);
For the repair of radio, audio and video equipment (matches wrapped in a cotton swab and soaked in alcohol are used to wipe hard-to-reach places of equipment).
"Tsar Match" 7.5 meters long, which was made in the city of Chudovo. The product claims to be included in the Guinness Book of Records. Photo: RIA Novosti / Mikhail Mordasov
1. Matches with multi-colored heads (red, blue, brown, green, etc.), contrary to the existing myth, differ from each other only in color. They burn exactly the same.
2. Combustible mass for matches was once prepared from white phosphorus. But then it turned out that this substance was unhealthy - the smoke generated during combustion was poisonous, and for suicide it was enough to eat just one match head.
3. The first Russian match manufactory was registered in 1837 in St. Petersburg. In Moscow, the first factory appeared in 1848. At first, matches were made from white phosphorus. Safe red phosphorus began to be used only in 1874.
4. A matchbox of the Soviet / Russian sample according to GOST has a length of exactly 5 cm, which makes it possible to measure the size of objects with its help.
5. Using a match, you can remove an ink stain from an oilcloth. To do this, slightly moisten the contaminated surface of the oilcloth tablecloth and rub the spot with the match head. After the pollution disappears, the oilcloth must be lubricated with olive oil, and then wiped with a cotton swab.
Matches were invented in 1680
Matches are a more remarkable invention than it might seem. The very first matches, invented in the 17th century, meant that a person began to use fire easily and simply, because he had a quick way to get it in a couple of seconds. In 1680, the Englishman Robert Boyle invented primitive matches coated with sulphur, which ignited on contact with phosphorus. However, these matches were impractical due to the volatility of phosphorus.
It took 150 years before another Englishman, chemist John Walker, invented the first matches that flash when rubbed, but not for the convenience of smokers, but for hunting rifles.
Discovery of John Walker
Walker made this discovery by accident: he said that he mixed potassium chloride with antimony sulfide, and then scratched the stones with a stick that interfered with them to clean it, and the stick flared up. In Walker's hand was the very first match in the world that broke out when rubbed. It ignited because enough heat was generated by friction to bring the resulting compound up to its ignition temperature (which is relatively low).
Walker did not patent his invention, and soon many chemists began to produce their matches, improving Walker's recipe by adding white phosphorus to the compound. The matches usually came with a strip of sandpaper to light the matches, but it was not uncommon for them to ignite on their own, simply by rubbing against each other.
The solution to this problem was found in 1855, when a decade after the discovery of the more stable red phosphorus, Swedish scientist Johan Edvard Lundström added it to the very first safety matches in the world.
Elena Polenova, Samogo.Net
