Matches may be small things, but so handy if you want to light a fire. A match is literally a light bringer. The invention of the match meant quick access to light, warmth and security. Where does the match actually come from? Who invented the match?
Fire
One of the most important discoveries of prehistoric man is the control of fire. Fire could keep predators at bay, food could be prepared, and fire provided heating, making colder regions of the earth more accessible. Fire also played a role in the processing of materials and was an important driver of social contacts.
Make a fire
Prehistoric man was primarily dependent on chance to make fire. Lightning strikes could set fire to parched forest and if you could take a burning branch with you, you could use it to keep a fire going in your enclosure. That only worked until it was time to move on or until the fire ran out of fuel and went out. It was better to make the fire yourself when needed. This is achieved by rubbing dry wood firmly together until it became so hot that dry twigs, leaves or moss could catch fire. An intensive job!
That must be better!
It was quite a strenuous activity, making a fire. That is why it was soon sought ways to better preserve and maintain fire on the one hand, and ways to create fire more easily on the other. Techniques were developed to slide the sticks together faster and easier. But however you looked at it, it was still a lot of work.
Solutions
Mixing some chemicals creates reactions that produce so much heat that it ignites. It was probably the Chinese who made the first documented experiments with light-emitting rods have done. It concerned sticks of pine that were impregnated with sulfur. According to a text from 950 that would have taken place in the year 577. Not exactly documented by year, but the Romans would have known something similar. After the Middle Ages, around 1530, the matchsticks became popular again in Europe.
The Submersible Lucifer
The principle of light-emitting rods continued to be tinkered with. So thought the French Jean Joseph Louis Chancel in 1805 a special variant, the submersible lucifer. The sticks treated with sulfur and potassium chlorate ignited by immersion in sulfuric acid. Since sulfuric acid is a dangerous substance that can cause unsightly burn marks, it was a risky business to ignite the submersible fuel. It worked, but it was not so pleasant to use.
Match
In 1827 the English chemist John Walker mixed potassium chlorate with antimony sulfide and starch. When this mixture was brushed against sandpaper it ignited. The mixture was initially applied to cardboard, but since cardboard burns rather quickly, this was less convenient for the user. The cardboard was therefore soon replaced by a piece of wood. A year later merchant introduced Samuel Jones the term match, literally: light maker.
Phosphorus in the matches
The development of the match was only now well underway. In the next step, phosphorus was used to accelerate ignition. Developed in 1832 Charles Sauria a match containing phosphorus. Very little friction was needed to ignite the match. Actually too little, which did not make it safer for the user.
Gustaf Erik Pasch
The Swedish chemist Gustaf Pasch threw himself into the match ignition problem. Phosphorus accelerated combustion, that was good. He was looking for a way to separate the phosphorus from the other components. His solution was actually very simple: The match head contains antimony sulfide, manganese dioxide and potassium chloride. This combination made a solid head, but did not ignite quickly. He also developed an ironing surface, which you rub the match over. Glass powder has been applied to the ironing surface to increase the friction and thus the heat produced. In addition, red phosphorus, which ensures faster ignition. An ideal combination! Because this match does not just ignite spontaneously, this model was called the safety match. (In Swedish: säkerhets tändstickor. Literally: safety lighter stick)
Patent
In 1855 the Swedes invented YOU Lundström and A. Sjöberg a way of manufacturing the match industrially. They applied for a patent for this, and got it. From this moment on, the modern match could conquer the world. Since this time matches have been sold in boxes (or booklets), which are provided with an ironing surface on which to strike the match.
Modern matchstick
Although the principle of the match has remained unchanged, the composition of the head has changed. Sulfur compounds are no longer used, but an iron-phosphorus compound instead. In Europe the sticks were initially made of pine wood, now poplar wood is used for this. In America you hardly see the wooden match, here mainly special cardboard rods are used. You also have models made from wax.
Modern conveniences
The match makes it much easier to make a fire. Candles, gas burners, fireplace and the campfire, they all lit more easily. Although other tools have been devised for the firing job nowadays, we can safely say: the match, a world invention!
Also nice
Matches are of course intended for making fire. Yet other things are possible. Matches are also used for tinkering, for example. Because matches have the same length and thickness, they are easy to use in all kinds of crafts, for example in houses built with match sticks.