- Author
-
Creitz, E. C.
- Title
- Inhibition of Flame Reactions: A Preliminary Investigation of the Role of Ions and Electrons.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
-
NBS 6588
November 4, 1959
31 p.
- Distribution
- AVAILABLE FROM: National Archives, Civilian Records, Room 2800, 8601 Adelphia Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001, Telephone: 301-713-7230
- Contract
- NBS-PROJECT-1002-11-10121
- Keywords
-
flame extinguishment
- Abstract
- It is proposed that activation of oxygen molecules in flames proceeds by capture of electrons to form O2 ions and that inhibition may be accomplished by capture of electrons by substances other than oxygenmolecules. The proposal is supported by evidence that the efficiency of an inhibitor is related to the cross section for capture of electrons of the inhibitor, that its efficiency is related to the oxygen concentration and is relatively independent of the nature of the (hydrocarbon) fuel, and, in the case of dry powder extinguishing agents, it is related to the ability to capture ions or electrons. Experimental results are presented which indicate that both the average lifetimes of ions and their steady-state concentrations in uninhibited flames depend on the initial oxygen concentration.