Irinyi's noiseless match
Cerilla silenciosa de Irinyi
- Date
- 1836 · confidence medium
- Place
- Budapest, Hungary
- Credited to
- János Irinyi
- Field
- Tools
What it is
The chemistry student replaced the potassium chlorate in the friction match with lead dioxide mixed with white phosphorus. The result ignited without spluttering or explosion.
Accounts place the idea during his studies abroad (Vienna or Berlin, depending on the source); the place given is that of the commercial exploitation in the Hungarian capital. White phosphorus remained toxic.
What it led to
- reliable, noiseless matches made in Hungary and Austria
- sale of the invention to the entrepreneur István Rómer
- a step before the safety match