Shock-initiated exothermic reactions. VI. The oxidation of ethylene oxide and cyclopropane

Abstract

Mixtures of ethylene oxide or cyclopropane with oxygen and argon were ignited with reflected shock waves In a shock tube. The temperature dependences of the ignition delay and the growth of light emitted during the induction period to explosion of C₂H₄O-O₂ mixtures indicate that the rate-controlling reaction is that of formaldehyde oxidation. The temperature dependence of induction periods for C₃H₆-O₂ mixtures suggests that a complicated but undetermined mechanism controls the delay to ignition.