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Why Is Butane Used in Lighters?

Why Is Butane Used in Lighters? thumbnail
Why Is Butane Used in Lighters?

The lighter became very popular in the early 1900s. Several different fuels were used before butane was adopted as the standard fuel source. It took decades for manufacturers to discover the benefits of using this fuel.

  1. History

    • A German chemist, Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner, invented the lighter in 1816. It was called Dobereiner's Lamp. It was fueled by hydrogen, a potentially explosive fuel, and it used platinum, an expensive material, to create a spark. The lighter was bulky and meant to be held in both hands when lighting the flame.

    Types

    • By 1908 the lighter became popular thanks to refinements that made it cheaper and small enough to fit in your pocket. Flint, an inexpensive material, became the standard spark-producer. Naphtha was a popular fuel until it was replaced by butane in the 1930s.

    Benefits

    • Butane does not have a strong odor compared to other fuels and makes it easier to control the lighter's flame. It also eliminates the need to replace the wick.

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References

  • Photo Credit lighter image by Sergey Shlyaev from Fotolia.com

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