Maddie James
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are a fun staple at birthday parties. These novelty candles can relight themselves a few seconds after being blown out, thanks to the addition of magnesium to the wick. While they are typically manufactured in Asia and remain legal in the United States, they have been banned in Canada since 1977 due to the fire hazard they pose. This article will explore the science behind how these candles are made to relight themselves and the potential dangers they present.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How trick candles are made | Fine flakes of magnesium are embedded in the wick |
| How they work | The heat of burning magnesium ignites the paraffin vapour right above a freshly extinguished candle and rekindles the wick |
| How to extinguish them | It is recommended to snuff them out or dunk them in water to cut off the oxygen supply |
| Inventor | It is difficult to identify a single inventor, but several patents have been filed around the world |
| Patent examples | In 1983, Toshio Takahashi filed a patent in Japan for a "Self-Ignited Candle". In 2003, Earl M. Stenger filed a US patent for a wind-resistant candle made with wick fibres containing magnesium |
| Current legality | They are currently legal in the US but were banned in Canada in 1977 due to fire hazards |
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What You'll Learn
The wick's embedded magnesium ignites
The wicks embedded with magnesium ignite due to the metal's low ignition temperature of 800 ºF or 430 ºC. This property of magnesium has been known since the 19th century. The wick's ember, after the initial flame is blown out, remains hot enough to ignite the magnesium, which then produces sparks. These sparks ignite the paraffin vapour above the extinguished candle, thus relighting the wick.
Magnesium is a metal that combines with oxygen to release light and heat. This property makes it useful in fire starters and fireworks. In a trick candle, the wax shields the magnesium inside the wick from the oxygen in the air. However, the exposed magnesium near the flame produces sparks when ignited.
The key to a relighting candle is to add something to the wick that the ember is hot enough to ignite. This way, the ember can ignite this substance, and the substance can then ignite the paraffin vapour. The paraffin vapour is produced by the burning wick, which supplies the activation energy to support wax combustion.
To extinguish a trick candle, it is recommended to snuff it out or dunk it in water to cut off the oxygen supply and prevent the flame from reigniting. This is because trick candles pose a fire hazard, as the wick can remain hot enough to reignite even after being blown out.
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Paraffin vapour relights the candle
When a regular candle is blown out, a thin ribbon of paraffin vapour rises from the wick. This vapour is produced when the ember of the wick, which is not hot enough to ignite the paraffin, vaporises the wax.
Trick candles are made by inserting magnesium into the wick. Magnesium has a low ignition temperature of 430 °C, which is hot enough to ignite the paraffin vapour above a freshly extinguished candle and relight the wick.
The magnesium in the wick of a trick candle ignites when exposed to oxygen, producing light and heat. The heat of the burning magnesium then relights the candle by igniting the paraffin vapour.
The key to a relighting candle is to add something to the wick that the ember is hot enough to ignite. This substance then ignites the vapour and relights the candle.
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Fire hazard concerns
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are a fire hazard due to their ability to relight themselves. This is made possible by igniting magnesium inserted into the wick of the candle. When blown out, the paraffin vapour produced is set alight, causing the candle to relight. This poses a fire risk, as consumers may mistakenly believe the candle is extinguished and discard it, only for the candle to relight and start a fire.
Barbara Miller, a spokeswoman for the National Candle Association, expressed concern about the potential fire hazard, stating that people may take the candles out of cakes and throw them in the trash, leading to accidental fires. To address this hazard, Miller recommends thoroughly extinguishing the candles by running them under water to deprive them of oxygen. She suggests letting the candles soak in water for an hour or two before disposal to ensure they are completely extinguished.
Canada has recognised the fire hazard posed by trick candles and banned their sale and advertisement in 1977. However, trick candles remain legal in the United States, where they are primarily manufactured in Asia. While some have suggested banning them, it is acknowledged that there are more pressing product safety issues to address. The focus is instead on educating consumers about the potential fire hazards associated with trick candles.
It is worth noting that the simplicity of making trick candles contributes to their fire hazard concerns. With readily available video instructions on YouTube and other platforms, anyone can create these candles without fully understanding the risks involved. This accessibility may lead to increased instances of accidental fires caused by improperly handled or discarded trick candles.
To mitigate the fire hazard, it is crucial to follow proper extinguishing and disposal procedures. Consumers should be educated about the unique characteristics of trick candles and the importance of ensuring complete extinguishment before disposal. By taking the necessary precautions, such as immersing the candles in water, consumers can significantly reduce the risk of accidental fires.
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Self-igniting candle patents
Several patents related to trick candles have been filed over the years. In 1983, Japanese inventor Toshio Takahashi patented a "self-ignited candle" with a wick containing aluminium, iron, magnesium, or an alloy of these metals. In 2003, Earl M. Stenger filed a US patent for a wind-resistant candle with a wick containing magnesium or a magnesium-aluminium blend.
A self-igniting candle patent (CN2558658Y) involves a candle with a wick made of a bamboo bar and cotton thread. The candle can be ignited by a self-igniting device arranged on the candle body or by striking a match combustion medicine on the candle wick. Another patent (US7473282B2) describes a self-lighting candle with a frictionally flammable head that ignites when struck against a rough surface, eliminating the need for an external source of flame.
Other patents related to electronic ignition of wax candles include DE102010022769A1, which describes a device that uses an ignition mechanism with an aligned ignition gas flow to ignite the wick of a wax candle. This device also allows for mechanical or electromechanical blowing out of the candle.
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Extinguishing methods
Trick candles are novelty candles that relight themselves a few seconds after being blown out. They are made by inserting magnesium into the wick of the candle. When the flame is blown out, the wick ember remains hot enough to ignite the magnesium, which then ignites the paraffin vapour above the extinguished candle, thus relighting the wick.
Due to the risk of fire, it is important to thoroughly extinguish trick candles before disposal. One recommended method is to run the candles under water or dunk them in a liquid to cut off the oxygen supply and prevent the candle from relighting. This can be done by placing the candles in a sink and running them under water for an hour or two before disposal. Another option is to use a candle snuffer to smother the flame and prevent oxygen from reaching it.
It is important to ensure that the trick candles are completely cool and will not relight before throwing them away. This may involve waiting for a period of time after extinguishing the flame to ensure that the candles do not reignite. Proper extinguishing and disposal of trick candles are crucial to prevent accidental fires.
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Frequently asked questions
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are a type of novelty candle that can relight themselves after being blown out.
Trick candles work by embedding fine flakes or powder of magnesium into the wick. Magnesium has a low ignition point, so when the initial flame is blown out, the hot embers ignite the magnesium, which produces tiny sparks and ignites the vaporised paraffin wax, causing the candle to relight.
To extinguish a trick candle, it is recommended to snuff it out or dunk it in water to cut off the oxygen supply and prevent the candle from relighting.
