What's on the Side of a Safety Match? What Are Matchsticks Made Of?

1. Ingredients in safety matches

Matchsticks are mainly composed of oxidants (KClO3), flammable substances (such as sulfur, etc.), and binders. The side of the matchbox is mainly composed of red phosphorus, antimony trisulfide, and adhesive.

When the match is struck, the side of the match sticks, and the matchbox rubs and heats up. The released heat decomposes KClO3, produces a small amount of oxygen, and ignites the red phosphorus, which causes the flammable substances (such as sulfur) on the match stick to burn so that the match is struck.

The advantage of safety matches is that the red phosphorus is separated from the oxidant, which is not only safer but also a non-toxic chemical. Therefore, it is also called a safety match.

Matchsticks mainly contain potassium chlorate, manganese dioxide, sulfur, and glass powder. The matchsticks are coated with a small amount of paraffin. The friction layer on both sides of the matchbox is made of red phosphorus and glass powder.

The main process by which a match ignites is:

(l) When a matchstick is stroked on a matchbox, the heat generated causes the phosphorus to burn;

(2) The heat released by the burning of phosphorus decomposes potassium chlorate;

(3) The oxygen released from the decomposition of potassium chlorate on the matchstick reacts with sulfur;

(4) The heat released by the reaction of sulfur and oxygen ignites the paraffin, which eventually sets the matchstick on fire.

2. How is the phosphorous surface on the safety matchbox made?

In the mid-1850s, Swedish manufacturer Lundstrom created safety matches by separating phosphorus from other flammable components. He applied the nontoxic red phosphorus to the friction surface of the matchbox, and the other ingredients were hidden in the matchbox.

Now, matches are made by automated machines. The production capacity reaches 2 million pieces per hour, and matchsticks are packed into safety match boxes for use.

The production of standard matches is to first cut the log into small wooden strips, each about 2.5 mm thick, and then cut the small wooden strips into match sticks and soak them in ammonium carbonate to ensure that the match sticks will not smolder.

The matchstick is inserted by a machine into a long steel belt with a continuous moving hole, and the end is dipped in hot paraffin; the paraffin penetrates into the fibers of the wood, which can help the flame to burn from the outer layer of the matchstick to the top of the matchstick. The matches are then dipped in the mixture that makes the matchsticks.

After the match stick dried, the stick was shot down and fell into the matchbox's inner box on the conveyor belt.

The outer box of the matchbox is on another parallel conveyor belt. The two conveyor belts stop every few seconds, and the inner box is pushed into the outer box.

On both sides of the safety match box, scratch paper coated with red phosphorus was added to cause the surface to be wiped. In the case of a matchstick that can be wiped immediately, the friction surface is made of glass sandpaper or sand-containing resin.

Established in 2000, Fangzhou Matches Factory is one of the leading safety match box manufacturers, manufacturing and distributing all kinds of safety matches from China.

To ensure the quality of the finished products, Fangzhou Matches Factory, known as one of safety matches exporters, has undergone multiple quality inspections throughout the production process, all matches are produced in factories in China with strict quality control, and the matches do not contain sulfur and toxic heavy metals. The outer and inner boxes are made of 100% recycled cardboard.

As a member of BSCI, Fangzhou , one of safety match box manufacturers, stands for social and ecological responsibility. Welcome customers from all over the world to visit and consult.