• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

How much heat does it take to light a match?

how a match works

http://www.sciencetheatre.org/ask_st/092596.html

When a match is struck on the striking surface of its box, the friction caused by the glass powder rubbing together produces enough heat to turn a very small amount of the red phosphorus into white phosphorus, which catches fire in air. This small amount of heat is enough to start a chemical reaction that uses the oxidizing agent to produce oxygen gas. The heat and oxygen gas then cause the sulfur to burst into flame, which then catches the wood of the match to catch on fire.

A "strike anywhere" match works in a similar way, but instead of phosphorus being on a striking surface, it is added to the head of the match. You can tell the difference between the two types of matches by looking at the colors of the match heads. A safety head is only one color, but a "strike anywhere" match is two colors: one for the phosphorus, and one for the oxidizing agent.
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
I vote for 454 degrees.

err....451.
Click to expand...

That was off the top of my head...I think I was actually pretty close...what do I win?

Text

230C=446F

In my chemical reference books the ignition temperature of sulfur is listed
as roughly 230 deg C, and I think that would be pretty close to the
ignition temperature of a match head. This is the temperature a match will
flare at if you hold it near a heat source (i.e. not in a flame, but in a
suitably hot region).
Click to expand...
 
It sounds more like you're looking for the temperature at which spontaneous combustion occurs, rather than the amount of heat. If you wanted to know the amount of heat, you'd have to give us more information about the match (wooden, etc.)

If, for some reason, you need good, reliable data for some particular brand of matches, simply search for the MSDS (material safety data sheet) for that brand. (I looked up one brand; just over 200C)
btw, why would you look up the ignition temp of sulfur?? A match isn't simply wood/paper and sulfur.
 
Try:
this MSDS for strike anywhere matches

Ingredient Name: POTASSIUM CHLORATE (MATCH HEAD)
Ingredient Name: POTASSIUM DICHROMATE (MATCH HEAD)
Ingredient Name: PHOSPHORUS SEQUISULFIDE (TID-SAW)
Click to expand...
Again, wtf would someone look for the ignition temperature of sulfur to answer this question??

AND, to answer your question (I win.)
Flash Point: Flash Point Text: N/P

Autoignition Temperature: >193.3C, 380.F
Click to expand...
 
oh, and
Flash Point Text: 375F;191C; OC
Click to expand...
for safety matches

and, for book matches,
Autoignition Temperature:
Autoignition Temperature Text: N/A
Lower Limit(s): UNKNOWN
Upper Limit(s): UNKNOWN
Click to expand...
Although another MSDS for book matches states:
Unusual Fire or Explosion Hazard:
AUTOIGNITION TEMP MIN 360F
Click to expand...




 
Wow what a bump. 🙂

Thanks for the serious replies and for the not so serious replies it would be 440 because a mopar big block >*. 😛

I was curious with a standard wooden match (not strike anywhere) and the specifics was to judge laser power vs. time to ignition. (temp is not a measure of heat 😛)

We were playing with a CO2 laser and exploded a spirit thermometer by shining the invisible beam on the instrument's bulb. It was an old Taylor thermometer and the bulb blew splattering colored spirits about with a marking not much different than the impact of a junebug on a windshield at 230 km/hr. :laugh:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top