Improvements in the Manufacture of Inflammable Pastes, suitable for Matches.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Inflammable Pastes, suitable for
Matches.
We, HENRI SEVENE and EMILE DAVID CAHEN, both of 24, Rue Lafayette, Paris,
France, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Experience shows that matches that are sensitive at all their surfaces, that
iguite readily and without explosion, on being struck in the ordinary way, and
that are capable of being easily transported, can be manufactured by employing
mixed pastes containing a mixture of white phosphorous and an oxidizing body
such as chlorate of potash, bichromate of potash, the oxides of lead or of man-
ganese; but these pastes present, as regards health, well known inconveniences.
We have tried to substitute for white phosphorous in mixed pastes, a body
which, whilst being harmless to the health of the workpeople, would enjoy its
essential properties of possessing a definite chemical composition and being easily
inflammable.
The sesquisulphide of phosphorous Ph₂ S, (equivalents) P, S, (atomic notation)
fulfils these prime conditions. Moreover, it offers a sufficient resistance to mois-
ture and to atmospheric agents. It can be manufactured industrially and obtained
in a state of purity by distillation.
The matches manfactured with mixed pastes containing this sesquisulphide.
oxidizing bodies, inert matters, and glues are satisfactory and ean furnish all
the degrees of sensitiveness desired by slight variations in the relative propor-
tions in which the materials are used. We will give by way of example the follow-
ing composition:-
--
Sesquisulphide of phosphorous
Chlorate of potash
Peroxide of iron
Zinc-white
Powdered glass
Glue
Water
-
90 grammes.
200
do.
110
do.
70 do.
140 do.
100
do.
290
do.
We are aware that efforts have often been made to employ, in the preparation

page_text: of mixed pastes for matches, a mixture of amorphous phosphorous and sulphur
either in powder or in the state of fusion. But these mixtures do not answer the
purpose in view; they differ esentially from the sesquisulphide of phosphorous
that we employ in that this last body is a perfectly definite composition that is
very stable, resists moisture as well as atmospheric agents, and can easily be
utilized and manipulated industrially.
Dnted this 96th day of July 1808
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Inflammable Pastes, suitable for
Matches.
We, HENRI SÉVÈNE and EMILE DAVID CAHEN, both of 24, Rue Lafayette, Paris,
France, Engineers, 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: —
Experience shows that matches that are sensitive at all their surfaces, that
ignite readily, and without explosion, on being struck in the ordinary way, and
that are capable of being easily transported can be manufactured by employing
mixed pastes containing a mixture of white phosphorus (i.e., yellow phosphorus
rendered white on the surface as by keeping under water containing air) and
oxidizing material, as chlorate of potash, bichromate of potash, the oxides of
lead, or the oxides of manganese; but these pastes present, as regards health,
well known inconveniences.
Our endeavour has been to substitute for white phosphorus in mixed pastes, a
body which, whilst being harmless to the health of the workpeople, would enjoy
its essential properties of possessing a definite chemical composition and being
easily inflammable.
The sesquisulphide of phosphorous Ph, S, (equivalents) PS (atomic notation)
fulfils these prime conditions. Moreover, it offers a sufficient resistance to mois-
ture and to atmospheric agents. It can be manufactured industrially and obtained
in a state of purity by distillation.
Matches manufactured with mixed pastes containing this sesquisulphide, oxidi-
zing bodies, inert matters, and glues, are satisfactory, and can be made in furnish
all the degrees of sensitiveness desired by slight variations in the relative pro-
portions in which the materials are used. We will give by way of example the
following composition:-
Sesquisulphide of phosphorus
Chlorate of potash
Peroxide of iron
Zine-white
Powdered glass
90 grammes.
200
do.
110 do.
70 do.
140 do.
100
do.
290
do.
Gluo
Water
We are aware that efforts have often been made to employ, in the preparation
of mixed pastes for matches, a mixture of amorphous phosphorus and sulphur
either in powder or in the state of fusion. But these mixtures do not answer the

page_text: purpose in view; they differ essentially from the sesquisulphide of phosphorus
that we employ in that this last body is a perfectly definite compound that is very
stable, resists moisture as well as atmospheric agents, and can easily be utilized
and manipulated industrially.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. An inflammable paste for matches containing sesquisulphide of phosphorus.
2. Inflammable pastes for matches comprising sesquisulphide of phosphorus,
oxidizing material, inert matter, and glue."
3. An inflammable paste for matches comprising sesquisulphide of phosphorus,
chlorate of potash, peroxide of iron, zinc-white, powdered glass, glue, and water,
substantially in the proportions herein before stated.
Dated this 26th day of April 1899
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.