Improvements in the Manufacture of Matches, Capable of being Struck Anywhere, without Yellow Phosphorus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept.,
1899
Improvements in the Manufacture of Matches, Capable of being
Struck Anywhere, without Yellow Phosphorus.
We, SIGMUND ADOLF ROSENTHAL, of No. 37, Walbrook, in the City of London,
Electrician, and STANISLAUS JOHANN VON ROMOCкI, also of No. 37, Walbrook, afore-
said, Doctor of Philosophy and Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The harmful action of yellow phosphorus on the people engaged in working
with same and the dangers which are connected with the sale of poisonous
matches to the public, have caused manufacturers and chemists to try and dis-
pense with yellow phosphorus for many years. Up to the present tine however
no one has really succeeded in producing a match capable of being struck any-
where without the use of yellow phosphorus. So far, only the so called Swedish
or "safety" matches have been produced without the use of yellow phosphorus,
but as they require to be struck on specially prepared surfaces, they do not
properly satisfy public requirements.
As the use of yellow phosphorus was not desirable, some other materials had
to be used instead thereof and for that purpose substances containing oxygen and
inflammable materials were tried.
Previously however such mixtures for forming the igniting paste have burnt
with comparatively great detonation, have spluttered and, in most cases, in
consequence of the rapid combustion have not set alight the spline forming the
match.
It was then sought to obviate this defect by adding to such paste, easily
inflammable by friction, larger quantities of inert materials, such as pumice stone
or the like, or more binding substances such as glue in order to reduce the
rapidity of the combustion. The result however has only been to reduce the
facility to ignite to a minimum, while the combustion in this case also took
place accompanied by detonation and spluttering.
We have made many and lengthy attempts in this province, the results of
which have made it clear why chemists and manufacturers could not arrive at a
satisfactory result. It was thought that a sensitive igniting paste of the
necessary consistency to form a match head, and not containing yellow phos-
phorus, had to be applied to the match or that the match had to be dipped therein
in order to have a head formed thereon. But when such matches were made it
was found that when used a strong detonation and spluttering resulted.
explain why this happened it should be noted that when ignition took place the
pressure in or at the paste inside the head immediately surrounding the match
was much greater than that in or at the outside layer and the more sensitive
to friction such paste was, the higher was the internal pressure causing the before
mentioned detonation and spluttering.
To
Now according to our invention we produce a match with a head consisting of
a paste somewhat similar in composition to the paste used for the so-called

page_text: Swedish or other similar safety matches and this head when formed is coated with
a layer of a composition not containing yellow phosphorus but capable of being
ignited by being struck or rubbed on any ordinary frictional surface.
We have found by experiment that a mixture of the following ingredients in
suitable proportions is suitable for forming the heads of matches but we do not
wisli to limit ourselves to such composition as others may be used without
departing from our invention:-
Cum arabic
When the head of the match has been formed it is dipped into a mixture
formed of the following ingredients in suitable proportions for forming the coat-
ing capable of being ignited by friction as aforesaid, but it must be understood
that we do not wish to limit ourselves to the composition to be described as it
may be varied without departing from our invention.
Sulphide of antimony
Chlorate of potash.
(Red) Amorphous phosphorus.
Powdered glass
The mixture of the above materials is
a proper consistency. Or if desired the
be kept liquid by the addition of acetic
then be used cold.
put into hot liquid glue so as to be of
solution of glue and water may always
acid or the like and the mixture may
When the match head is fully formed after being dipped in both the mixtures
it may be dipped in a water proofing material or be otherwise treated in any
well known manner.
The ignition takes place by friction or a blow on the outer coating and that
ignites the head of the match which burns slowly and ignites the match
itself, the latter being either of wood, wax, or other suitable material
materials.
Dated this Seventh day of September 1898.
or
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Matches, Capable of being
Struck Anywhere, without Yellow Phosphorus.
We, SIGMUND ADOLF ROSENTIAL, of No. 37, Walbrook, in the City of London,
Electrician, and STANISLAUS JOHANN VON ROмOCKI, also of No. 37, Walbrook, afore-
said, Doctor of Philosophy and Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The harmful action of yellow phosphorus on the people engaged in working
with same and the dangers which are connected with the sale of poisonous
matches to the public, have caused manufacturers and chemists to try and dis-
pense with yellow phosphorus for many years. Up to the present time however

page_text: or
66
no one has really succeeded in producing a match capable of being struck any-
where without the use of yellow phosphorus. So far, only the so called Swedish
safety" matches have been produced without the use of yellow phosphorus,
but as they require to be struck on specially prepared surfaces, they do not
properly satisfy public requirements.
As the use of yellow phosphorus was not desirable, some other materials had
to be used instead thereof and for that purpose substances containing oxygen and
inflammable materials were tried.
Previously however such mixtures for forming the igniting paste have burnt
with comparatively great detonation, have spluttered and, in most cases, in
consequence of the rapid combustion have not set alight the spline forming the
match.
It was then sought to obviate this defect by adding to such paste, easily
inflammable by friction, larger quantities of inert materials, such as pumice stone
or the like, or more binding substances such as glue in order to reduce the
rapidity of the combustion. The result however has only been to reduce the
facility to ignite to a minimum, while the combustion in this case also took
place accompanied by detonation and spluttering.
We have made many and lengthy attempts in this province, the results of
which have made it clear why chemists and manufacturers could not arrive at a
satisfactory result. It was thought that a sensitive igniting paste of the
necessary consistency to form a match head, and not containing yellow phos-
phorus, had to be applied to the match or that the match had to be dipped therein
in order to have a head formed thereon. But when such matches were made it
was found that when used a strong detonation and spluttering resulted.
То
explain why this happened it should be noted that when ignition took place the
pressure in or at the paste inside the head immediately surrounding the match
was much greater than that in or at the outside layer and the more sensitive
to friction such paste was, the higher was the internal pressure causing the before
mentioned detonation and spluttering.
Now according to our invention we produce a match with a head consisting of
a paste somewhat similar in composition to the paste used for the so-called
Swedish or other similar safety matches and this head when formed is coated with
a layer of a composition not containing yellow phosphorus but capable of being
ignited by being struck or rubbed on any ordinary frictional surface.
We have found by experiment that a mixture of the following ingredients in
suitable proportions by weight is suitable for forming the heads of matches

page_text: It must be understood that we do not wish to limit ourselves to the composition
to be described as it may be varied without departing from our invention.
When the match head is fully formed after being dipped in both the mixtures
it may be dipped in any well known waterproofing material suitable for the pur-
pose or be otherwise treated in any well known manner.
The ignition takes place by friction or a blow on the outer coating and that
ignites the head of the match proper which burns slowly and ignites the match
itself, the latter being either of wood, wax, or other suitable material
materials.
or
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The application and use in connection with heads of matches made of a
match composition not containing yellow phosphorous of a coating composed sub-
stantially as described and capable of igniting by being struck anywhere.
2. A match capable of being struck anywhere, containing no yellow phos-
phorus and having a head of a composition made with sulphide of antimony,
chlorate of potash, umber and gum arabic, said head being covered with an
igniting composition made with sulphide of antimony, chlorate of potash,
amorphous phosphorus powdered glass and a suitable binding material, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this Seventh day of June 1899
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.