Historically, the
term match referred to lengths of cord, or later cambric,
impregnated with chemicals, and allowed to burn continuously.
These were used to light fires and set off guns and cannons.
Such matches were characterised by their burning speed, e.g.
quick match and slow match; depending on their formulation, they
could provide burning rates of between, typically, 1 second and
15 seconds per centimetre.
The modern equivalent of this sort of match is the simple fuse,
still used in pyrotechnics to obtain a controlled time delay
before ignition. The original meaning of the word still persists
in some pyrotechnics terms, such as black match (a black
powder–impregnated fuse) and Bengal match (a firework producing
a relatively long-burning, coloured flame). But, when friction
matches were developed, they became the main object meant by the
term.
History of the modern match
A predecessor of the match, small sticks of pinewood impregnated
with sulfur, was developed in China in 577 A.D.[citation
needed].
The first modern, self-igniting match was invented in 1805 by K.
Chancel, assistant to Professor Louis Jacques Thénard of Paris.
The head of the match consisted of a mixture of potassium
chlorate, sulfur, sugar, and rubber. They were ignited by
dipping the tip of the match in a small asbestos bottle filled
with sulfuric acid. This kind of match was quite expensive and
its usage was dangerous, so Chancel's matches never gained much
popularity.
Friction matches >>
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Match
History of the term match
Friction matches
Special purpose matches
Matchbooks
Fires due to
lit matches
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