Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Matches Part I : What and How

Matches, among many things,  we take for granted and fails to appreciate how clever their design is or how useful they are unless we are in trouble.

blah blah blah blah.........lets forget the philosophy and jump into the science of matches.



HOW IT IS WORK


Matches use one of the most used phenomenon of the nature men use to light fire - FRICTION with some help of exothermic chemical reaction.


There are 3 parts in the modern friction Matches:


1. Igniter

2. Fire starter ( I know, I know igniter and fire starter almost same in meaning but can't find a better word in my limited vocabulary )
3. Fuel

Igniter : Modern day matches use mixture of Red Phosphorus , Powdered glass, carbon black            and binder. This placed on the side of the matchbox / matchbook for safety matches or at the tip of fire starter (match head ) for strike anywhere matches.


Fire starter : This is the mixture of  sulphur  , potassium chlorate,  glass powder and glue. This placed in the tip of matchsticks (match head).


Fuel : This is the matchstick itself which made of flammable materials like wood or wax paper.



To ignite a matchstick you have to "strike" it i.e. rub it very fast against the igniter surface ( for safety matches ) or a rough surface( for strike anywhere matches ). Due to presence of powdered glass this strikes generate enough frictional heat to convert some Red Phosphorus 

to white phosphorus which ignites instantly with the help of atmospheric Oxygen and the oxygen from potassium chlorate( the sparks we see while striking a match ). This starts burn the sulphur  rapidly ( the initial rapid flame). This burning sulphur ignites the matchsticks and we get sustained, uniform (mostly), slow burning flame to use.





HOW IT IS MADE 

(oops, sounds like tv show)

Seeing a video would better than my writing.




(paper-board matches in matchbook)




Videos are from you tube, not mine.
Further reading:

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