- Author
- Pasternak, M. | Zinn, B. T. | Browner, R. F.
- Title
- Oxidation of Aromatic Species as a Competitive Chemical Pathway to the Major Process of Soot Formation.
- Coporate
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
- Journal
- Combustion and Flame, Vol. 41, No. 3, 335-337, 1981
- Keywords
- soot formation | thermal degradation
- Abstract
- Smoke formation during the burning of polymers is undoubtedly a complex process, involving many chemical and physical steps occurring both in parallel and in sequence. In the light of results obtained recently by this group and relevant information available in the literature the following two-process mechanism was proposed. Process 1 involves thermal degradation of the polymer to polymer fragments and pyrolysis products, which could be considered as a "simple Fuel." In process 2 the "Simple Fuel" reacts to form large carbon-rich polynuclear soot nuclei through ring enlargement processes involving reactive aromatic species.