MATCH BOX

1. Thaadikku thee pitichhu ootumpol beedi kathhikkan thee chothikkuka. (Asking
fire to light beedi when a person is running with fire in beard)

This saying means talking things in the most in appropriate situation. Once a
person with beard lighted cigar and accidentally his beard came in contact with
fire from match stick. He was running to get some water to pour on his beard to
stop fire.

   While he was running a person was wandering to light his beedi, having no
match
box. He asked the man with beard, just wait a moment, I will light my beedi!!!

2. Theepetti vangikkan kasilla. (There is no money to purchase match box)

There is another saying as above. This mean the poverty in the house is so much;
there is no money to purchase even a match box.

3. Story of the misery rich man

Once a temple festival committee was collecting contributions from houses. They
reached a rich man's house. When they reached the house the house owner was
exchanging words   with his wife for wasting three match boxes for lighting the
gas stove.  They waited in the varandha.

One of the committee members hearing the quarrel said- Let us go, what we will
get from this misery man quarrelling for two match sticks'

Another member suggested- Some how we have come. Let us wait and see him and go.

After   some how the house owner appeared and received them and asked the reason
for their visit.  He immediately took his check book and made a contribution of
Rs 10000-00 and gave to them.

One of the committee member could not keep himself. He asked how he contributed
Rs 10000=00 when he was quarrelling for wasting two match sticks   with his
wife.

He detailed to them- She should know the value of money. All these wealth are
earned by such hard work even with out wasting a match stick.

While I was studying this story was told to me by my class mate and first year
college mate, Gopinathan nair, now doctor in Pushpagiri Hospital at Tiruvalla.
When ever a match stick is wasted it will make me recollect Gopi.

4. Material used for safety match box?

Many may be in anxiety to know about the materials used in the stick and
striking surface.

Match boxes from earlier days to days form has under gone a lot of research and
efforts to make them safety matches.

5 Definition of match

A match is a combustible tool for lighting a fire in controlled circumstances. A
match is typically a wooden stick (typical in the case of match boxes) or stiff
paper stick (in the case of match books) coated at one end with a material which
will ignite from the heat of friction if struck against a suitable surface.

5a Match Head

The lighting end of a match is known as the match "head" and, depending on type,
either contains phosphorus or phosphorus sesquisulfide as the active ingredient
and gelatine as a binder.

5b Safety matches and ignition matches

There are two main types of matches: safety matches, which can be struck only
against a specially prepared surface; and strike-anywhere matches, for which any
suitably frictional surface can be used.

6. Early matches

Sulphur matches were apparently mentioned by Martial in ancient Rome. A
predecessor of the match, small sticks of pinewood impregnated with sulphur, was
invented in China in AD 577.

First modern, self-igniting match was invented in 1805 by K. Chancel, assistant
to Professor Louis Jacques Th�nard of Paris.

The head of the match consisted of a mixture of potassium chlorate, sulphur,
sugar, and rubber. They were ignited by dipping the tip of the match in a small
asbestos bottle filled with sulphuric acid. This kind of match was quite
expensive and its usage was dangerous, so Chancel's matches never gained much
popularity.

7 Walker and Lucifer Friction matches

The first "friction match" was invented by English chemist John Walker in 1826
Walker discovered a mixture of antimony sulphide or stibnite, potassium
chlorate, gum, and starch could be ignited by striking against any rough surface
Walker called the matches congreves, but the process was patented by Samuel
Jones and the matches were sold as Lucifer matches.

My note � Some elder members may be recollecting their studies in high school
about Lucifer matches now.

The early matches had a number of problems - the flame was unsteady and the
initial reaction could be sometimes violent; additionally, the odour produced by
the burning match was unpleasant like of the fire works.

8. Odour removal

In 1830, Frenchman Charles Sauria added white phosphorus to remove the odour of
fire works smell. These new matches had to be kept in an airtight box but were
popular.  But white phosphorus had its own limitations on health hazards.

9. Noiseless matches

The noiseless match was invented in 1836 by the Hungarian J�nos Irinyi, who
was a student of chemistry. He replaced potassium chlorate in the head of the
match with a mixture of lead, gum Arabic and potassium chlorate granules in the
head of the white phosphorus match. The patent right was sold to Mr. R�mer, a
Hungarian pharmacist and these matches became very popular and on that account
Mr Romer became very rich by its production.

10. Re-formulation to remove white phosphorus

The early matches, including the noiseless match, were dangerous to both the
users and the people who worked in the manufacturing companies that made them.
This was due to the use of white phosphorus. The search for a replacement for
white phosphorus led to what was known as the "safety match."

11. Safety matches

The safety match was invented in 1844 by the Swede Gustaf Erik Pasch and was
improved by Johan Edvard Lundstr�m. In 1858 John Edward and his brother
started a company and their company produced around 12 million match boxes.

My note � Some elder members may be recollecting their studies in high school
about John Edward safety matches now.

Their safety is due to the separation of the reactive ingredients between a
match head on the end of a paraffin-impregnated splint and a special striking
surface, and the replacement of white phosphorus with red phosphorus.

12. The striking surface and Match head

The striking surface is composed of typically 25% powdered glass, 50% red
phosphorus, 5% neutralizer, 4% carbon black and 16% binder.

The match head is typically composed of 45-55% potassium chlorate, with a little
sulphur and starch, a neutralizer (ZnO or CaCO3), 20-40% of siliceous filler,
diatomite and glue. Some heads contain antimony sulphide so they burn more
vigorously.

My note- Now members may be recollecting the glittering on the striking surface
on earlier match boxes more and current ones on close watch on the striking
surface caused by the grounded glass powder.

13. How do safety matches function?

Safety matches ignite due to the extreme reactivity of phosphorus with the
potassium chlorate in the match head.

When the match is struck the phosphorus And chlorate mix in a small amount
forming something similar to the explosive
Armstrong's mixture which ignites due to the friction. The longest known burn
time of a single safety matchstick is over 50 seconds.
The safety match used the non-poisonous red phosphorus that was placed on the
striking surface, not the match itself. The reason they were called "safety
matches" was because they would only ignite on the striking surface on the box,
nowhere else would the match ignite.
14. Types of special-purpose matches

EXTRA-LONG MATCHES, used for lighting fireplaces in extra safety.

STORM MATCHES, also known as lifeboat matches or flare matches, have an easy to
strike tip like a normal match, but much of the stick is coated with a
combustible compound which will keep burning even in a strong wind. They have a
wax coating to make them waterproof, making them a component of many survival
kits. This particular match was used in the first mass-produced Molotov
cocktails.

"BENGAL MATCHES" are actually small hand-held fireworks akin to sparklers. They
are similar to storm matches in form, but they include compounds of strontium or
barium in the compound on the stick to produce a red or green flame
respectively.

15. Phillumeny

The hobby of collecting match-related items, such as match covers (labels of the
company on top) and matchbox labels is known as phillumeny.

16 SUMMARY

1. Safety matches ignite due to the extreme reactivity of phosphorus with the
potassium chlorate in the match head
2. The reason they were called "safety matches" was because they would only
ignite on the striking surface on the box, nowhere else would the match ignite.
3. The longest known burn time of a single safety matchstick is over 50 seconds.