A shock tube study of the pyrolysis of NO2

NO₂ concentration profiles in shock-heated NO₂/Ar mixtures were measured in the temperature range of 1350–2100 K and pressures up to 380 atm using Ar⁺ laser absorption at 472.7 nm, IR emission at 6.25±0.25 μm, and visible emission at 300–600 nm. In the course of this study, the absorption coefficient of NO₂ at 472.7 nm was measured at temperatures from 300 K to 2100 K and pressures up to 75 atm. Rate coefficients for the reactions NO₂+M→NO+O+M (1), NO₂+NO₂→2NO+O₂ (2a), and NO₂+NO₂→NO₃+NO (2b) were derived by comparing the measured and calculated NO₂ profiles. For reaction (1), the following low- and high-pressure limiting rate coefficients were inferred which describe the measured fall-off curves in Lindemann form within 15% [FORMULA] The inferred rate coefficient at the low- pressure limit, k_1o, is in good agreement with previous work at higher temperatures, but the energy of activation is lower by 20 kJ/mol than reported previously. The pressure dependence of k₁ observed in the earlier work of Troe [1] was confirmed. The rate coefficient inferred for the high pressure limit, k_1∞, is higher by a factor of two than Troe's value, but in agreement with data obtained by measuring specific energy-dependent rate coefficients. For the reactions (2a) and (2b), least-squares fits of the present data lead to the following Arrhenius expressions: [FORMULA] For reaction (2), the new data agree with previously recommended values of k_2a and k_2b, although the present study suggests a slightly higher preexponential factor for k_2a. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 483–493, 1997.     

Measurements and modeling of cloud point behavior for polypropylene/n-pentane and polypropylene/n-pentane/carbon dioxide mixtures at high pressure

The phase behavior of polypropylene (PP) in n-pentane and n-pentane/carbon dioxide solvent mixtures has been studied using a high-pressure variable volume view cell. Cloud point pressures for polypropylene (M_w=50,400) in near-critical n-pentane were studied at temperatures ranging from 432 to 470 K for polymer concentrations of 1 to 15 mass%. Furthermore, cloud point pressures for polypropylene (M_w=95,400) in near-critical n-pentane were studied at temperatures ranging from 450 to 465 K for polymer concentrations of 1 to 8 mass%. Cloud point pressures were also measured for PP (M_w=200,000, 3 mass%) in n-pentane at temperatures ranging from 450 K to 465 K. The cloud point pressures for PP (M_w=50,400) in n-pentane/CO₂ mixtures were determined for PP concentrations of 3.0 mass% and 9.7 mass% with CO₂ solvent concentrations ranging from 12.6 mass% to 42.0 mass% at temperatures ranging from 405 K to 450 K. All of the experimental cloud point isopleths were relatively linear with approximately the same positive slope indicating LCST behavior. The experimental cloud point pressures were relatively insensitive to the concentration and molecular weight of polypropylene. At a given temperature, the cloud point pressure of the PP/n-pentane/carbon dioxide system increased almost linearly with increasing carbon dioxide solvent concentration (for carbon dioxide concentrations less than 30 mass%). The Sanchez–Lacombe (SL) equation of state was used to model the experimental data.     

Swelling and sorption in polymer–CO2 mixtures at elevated pressures

Experimental data on gas sorption and polymer swelling in glassy polymer—gas systems at elevated pressures are presented for CO₂ with polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate), and polystyrene over a range of temperatures from 33 to 65°C and pressures up to 100 atm. The swelling and sorption behavior were found to depend on the occurrence of a glass transition for the polymer induced by the sorption of CO₂. Two distinct types of swelling and sorption isotherms were measured. One isotherm is characterized by swelling and sorption that reach limiting values at elevated pressures. The other isotherm is characterized by swelling and sorption that continue to increase with pressure and a pressure effect on swelling that is somewhat greater than the effect of pressure on sorption. Glass transition pressures estimated from the experimental results for polystyrene with CO₂ are used to obtain the relationship between CO₂ solubility and the glass transition temperature for the polymer. This relationship is in very good agreement with a theoretical corresponding-states correlation for glass transition temperatures of polystyrene-liquid diluent mixtures.     

Tests of a “free-volume” model of gas permeation through polymer membranes. II. Pure Ar,SF6, CF4, and C2H2F2 in polyethylene

Permeability coefficients for Ar, SF₆, CF₄, and C₂H₂F₂ (1,1-difluoroethylene) in polyethylene membranes were determined from steady-state permeation rates at temperatures from 5 to 50°C, and at applied gas pressures of up to 15 atm. The temperature and pressure dependence of the permeability coefficients was represented satisfactorily by an extension of Fujita's free volume model of diffusion of small molecules in polymers. The parameters required by this model were determined from independent absorption (diffusivity) measurements with the above gases in polyethylene rods. The present work confirms the results of previous studies with CO₂, CH₄ C₂H₄ and C₃H₈ in polyethylene.     

Thermal decomposition of monomethylhydrazine: Shock tube experiments and kinetic modeling

The thermal decomposition of gaseous monomethylhydrazine (MMH) was studied by recording MMH absorption at 220 nm of the reacting gas behind a reflected shock wave at temperatures of 900–1370 K, pressures of 140–450 kPa, and in mixtures containing 97.5–99 mol% argon. Based on previous work (Sun and Law; J Phys Chem A 2007, 111(19), 3748–3760), a kinetic mechanism was developed over extended temperature and pressure ranges to model these experimental data. Specifically, the temperature and pressure dependence of the unimolecular rate coefficients on the dissociation of MMH and the associated radicals were calculated by the QRRK/Master equation analysis at temperatures of 300–2000 K and pressures of 1–100 atm based on published thermochemical and kinetic parameters. They were then fitted using the Troe formalism and incorporated in the kinetic model. This unadjusted model was then used to predict the MMH decomposition profiles at different temperatures and pressures for seven groups of MMH/Ar mixtures and the half‐life decomposition times from shock tube experiments. Good agreement was observed below 940 K and above 1150 K for the diluted MMH/Ar mixtures. The model predictions further show that the overall MMH decomposition rate follows first‐order kinetics, and that the N–N bond scission is the most sensitive reaction path for the modeling of the homogeneous decomposition of MMH at elevated pressures. However, the model predictions deviate from the experimental data with the incubation period of ca. 100 μs observed in the 1030–1090 K temperature range, and it also predicts longer ignition delays for highly concentrated MMH/Ar mixtures. The discrepancy between the model predictions and experimental data at these special conditions of MMH decomposition was analyzed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 176–186, 2009     

An investigation of temperature and pressure dependence of the reaction of CF2ClO2 radicals with nitrogen dioxide by flash photolysis and time resolved mass spectrometry

Rate coefficients of the termolecular reaction were determined over the temperature range of 248–324 K and at pressures from 1 to 10 torr by time resolved mass spectrometry. CF₂ClO₂ radicals were generated by flash photolysis of CF₂ClBr in the presence of oxygen. Their rate of decay was measured by following (CF₂O₂)⁺ fragment ions formed in the ion source. With 2 to 40 mtorr of NO₂ present the dominant removal pathway is addition to form the peroxynitrate. The third order rate coefficients are wholly within the falloff over the experimental pressure range, and have a negative temperature coefficient. Rate constants for the reverse reaction, the unimolecular dissociation of CF₂ClO₂NO₂, D. Koppenkastrop and F. Zabel, Int. J. Chem. Kinet., 23 , 1 (1991) were employed to calculate equilibrium constants, from which a 600 torr value of the combination rate coefficient was obtained at each temperature. From the temperature dependence of the equilibrium constants, the average enthalpy of reaction over the experimental temperature range was found to be 106.1 ± 0.3 kJ/mol. Extrapolation of the combination rate constants to lower and higher pressures, and estimates of low and high pressure limiting rate coefficients, k₀ and k_∞ were done by nonlinear least squares fit of the experimental data, using the empirical F_c equations developed by Troe.     

The diffusion of CO2, CH4, C2H4, and C3H8 in polyethylene at elevated pressures

Diffusion and solubility coefficients have been determined for the CO₂^?, CH₄^?, C₂H₄^?, and C₃H₈-polyethylene systems at temperatures of 5, 20, and 35°C and at gas pressures up to 40 atm. Diffusion coefficients were obtained from rates of gas absorption in polyethylene rods under isothermal-isobaric conditions by means of a new diffusivity apparatus. The concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficients was represented satisfactorily by Fujita's free-volume model, modified for semicrystalline polymers, while the solubility of all the penetrants in polyethylene was within the limit of Henry's law. Semiempirical correlations were found for the free-volume parameters in terms of physicochemical properties of the penetrant gases and the penetrant-polymer systems. These correlations, if confirmed, should permit the prediction of diffusion and permeability coefficients of other gases and of gas mixtures in polyethylene as functions of pressure and temperature.     

Kinetic study of the hydroxyl radical-propene reaction

Absolute rate coefficients for the reactions of OH with C₃H₆ and C₃D₆ were measured at temperatures from 293 to 896 K and at pressures from 25 to 600 Torr helium. Mechanistic information of importance to atmospheric and combustion modeling was obtained.     

Tests of a “free-volume” model of gas permeation through polymer membranes. I. Pure CO2, CH4, C2H4, and C3H8 in polyethylene

Permeability coefficients have been measured for CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄, and C₃H₈ in polyethylene membranes at temperatures of 5, 20, and 35°C and at applied gas pressures of up to 30 atm. The temperature and pressure dependence of the permeability coefficients was represented satisfactorily by an extension of Fujita's free-volume model of diffusion of small molecules in polymers. The results of the present steady-state permeability measurements provide further support for the conclusion reached from previous unsteady-state diffusivity measurements that Fujita's model is applicable to the transport of small molecules, such as CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄, and C₃H₈, in polyethylene. It was previously thought that this model is applicable only to the transport of larger molecules, such as of organic vapors, in polymers.     

Combined experimental and master equation investigation of the multiwell reaction H + SO2

The temperature and pressure dependence of the rate coefficient for the reaction H + SO2 has been measured using a laser flash photolysis/laser-induced fluorescence technique, for 295 10(3) atm, the latter proceeds directly from H + SO2, via the energized states of HOSO. The derived rate coefficients rely heavily on measurements of the reverse reaction, OH + SO, which has only been determined at temperatures up to 700 K.     

A study of ethane decomposition in a shock tube using laser absorption of CH3

The rate coefficient for the unimolecular reaction, C₂H₆ → CH₃ + CH₃, was measured in reflected shock wave experiments using narrow-linewidth laser absorption of methyl radicals at 216.6 nm. The experiments were conducted in the falloff regime at the conditions 1350 to 2110 K, 0.58 to 4.4 atm, in 50 to 500 ppm C₂H₆/Ar and 190 ppm C₂H₆/N₂ mixtures. At temperatures below 1500 K, the measured rate coefficients are in good agreement with the expression of Wagner and Wardlaw (1989). Above 1500 K, the measurements fall increasingly below their predictions. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Master Equation Modeling of the Unimolecular Decompositions of α‐Hydroxyethyl (CH3CHOH) and Ethoxy (CH3CH2O) Radicals

The unimolecular decomposition of two radical isomers of C₂H₅O (CH₃CH₂O/ethoxy, CH₃CHOH/α‐hydroxyethyl) are investigated by means of Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus/master equation simulations in helium and nitrogen bath gases on an accurate one‐dimensional potential energy surface. For ethoxy, simulations are carried out between temperatures of 406 and 1200 K and pressures of 0.001 and 100 atm. For CH₃CHOH, simulations are carried out between temperatures of 800 and 1500 K and pressures of 0.001 and 100 atm. Results are compared with available experimental data, with good agreement. The dominant product of α‐hydroxyethyl decomposition is CH₃CHO + H, with C₂H₃OH + H and CH₃ + CH₂O, being minor channels. Rate coefficients are strongly dependent on temperature and pressure and are recommended with attendant uncertainty factor estimates. The relative roles of vinyl alcohol and acetaldehyde in the context of combustion chemistry are also discussed.     

Diffusion of Quinine with Ethanol as a Co-Solvent in Supercritical CO2

This study aims at contributing to quinine extraction using supercritical CO₂ and ethanol as a co-solvent. The diffusion coefficients of quinine in supercritical CO₂ are measured using the Taylor dispersion technique when quinine is pre-dissolved in ethanol. First, the diffusion coefficients of pure ethanol in the supercritical state of CO₂ were investigated in order to get a basis for seeing a relative change in the diffusion coefficient with the addition of quinine. We report measurements of the diffusion coefficients of ethanol in scCO₂ in the temperature range from 304.3 to 343 K and pressures of 9.5, 10 and 12 MPa. Next, the diffusion coefficients of different amounts of quinine dissolved in ethanol and injected into supercritical CO₂ were measured in the same range of temperatures at p = 12 Mpa. At the pressure p = 9.5 MPa, which is close to the critical pressure, the diffusion coefficients were measured at the temperature, T = 343 K, far from the critical value. It was found that the diffusion coefficients are significantly dependent on the amount of quinine in a small range of its content, less than 0.1%. It is quite likely that this behavior is associated with a change in the spatial structure, that is, the formation of clusters or compounds, and a subsequent increase in the molecular weight of the diffusive substance.     

Analysis of nitromethane thermal decomposition at low temperatures

The thermal decomposition of nitromethane (NM) over the temperature range from 580 to 700 K at pressures of 4 Torr to 40 atm was analyzed. On the basis of literature data, with the use of theoretical transitional curves of the modified Kassel integral, the rate constants k of NM decomposition at the upper pressure limit were determined. The values thus obtained are in good agreement with the results of extrapolation of the high-temperature (1000–1400 K) k _{1, ∞} values to lower temperatures. The reasons for which the NM decomposition rate constants differ by two orders of magnitude at low temperatures are considered. A general expression for the NM decomposition rate constant at the upper pressure limit over the 580–1400 K temperature range was determined: k _{1, ∞} = (1.8 ± 0.7) × 10¹⁶ exp((?58.5 ± 2)/R _T ) s^?1. These data disprove the hypothesis that a nitro-nitrite rearrangement takes place during the NM decomposition at low temperatures.     

Pressure–volume–temperature behavior of two polycyanurate networks

The pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) behavior was studied for two polycyanurate networks having different crosslink densities using a pressurizable dilatometer. The samples were studied at temperatures ranging from 60 to 180 °C and at pressures up to 170 MPa to yield PVT data in both rubbery and glassy states. The Tait equation is found to well describe the isobaric temperature scan and isothermal pressure scan data. The thermal expansion coefficients, instantaneous bulk moduli, and thermal pressure coefficients are extracted from the data and their dependence on crosslink density is examined. The time‐dependent viscoelastic bulk modulus (K(t)) is also calculated in the vicinity of the α‐relaxation from previously published pressure relaxation experimental data, and the strength and shape of the dispersion are found to be independent of crosslink density. The limiting bulk moduli depend strongly on temperature with those of the more loosely crosslinked sample being lower at a given temperature and pressure, although at T_g(P), the limiting moduli of the more loosely crosslinked sample are slightly higher than those of the more highly crosslinked sample. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010     

Solid state phase transformations during the oxidation of copper sulfides: Roaster diagrams for the Cu-S-O system

Roaster diagrams that represent the stabilities of condensed phases as a function of temperature and percent oxygen appear to be more useful than the predominance area diagrams (PADs), which show the stability of different phases in the metal-sulfur-oxygen system at constant temperature. Roaster diagrams can be obtained from PADs and represent the intersection of total pressure lines with lines on a PAD extended in temperature. In this paper, PADs at four different temperatures and roaster diagrams for the system Cu-S-O are derived from PADs at total pressures of 0.25 atm and 1 atm. These diagrams show that at total pressures of 0.25 atm and 1 atm the CuO/CuO·CuSO₄ phase transformation occurs at 1063 K and 1133 K at 50% oxygen. The more complex four-component system Cu-As-S-O will follow in a subsequent publications.     

Experimental and kinetic study of shock initiated ignition in homogeneous methane–hydrogen–air mixtures at engine‐relevant conditions

The ignition delay time of two stoichiometric methane/hydrogen/air mixtures has been measured in a shock tube facility at pressures from 16 to 40 atm and temperatures from 1000 to 1300 K. Overall, the observed reduction in ignition delay with some methane replaced by hydrogen is relatively small given the large concentration of hydrogen involved in the current study. With a high hydrogen mole fraction (35% of the total fuel), a reduction of the ignition‐promoting effect was observed with reduced temperature. A detailed chemical kinetic mechanism was used to simulate ignitions of test mixtures behind reflected shocks. An analysis of the mechanism indicates that at higher temperatures, the rapid decomposition of hydrogen molecules leads to a quick formation of H radical pools, which promote the chain branching through H + O₂ ? O + OH. At lower temperatures, the branching efficiency of hydrogen is low; a weak effect of hydrogen on methane ignition could be result from the reaction between H₂ and methylperoxy CH₃O₂, which contributes extra H radicals to the reaction system. The effects of hydrogen also decrease with increasing pressure; this is related to the negative pressure dependence of hydrogen at the second ignition limit. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 221–233, 2006     

Measuring the ignition delay time for hydrogen-oxygen mixtures behind the front of an incident shock wave

The delay time τ has been measured for the formation of the ^·OH radical in igniting hydrogenoxygen mixtures diluted with argon (79–97%). The experiments have been carried out under incident shock wave conditions at temperatures of 900–3000 K, pressures of 0.5–2.5 atm, and H₂/O₂ ratios of 0.2–20. The dependence of τ on the pressure P _s of the stoichiometric part of the combustible mixture (2H₂-O₂) has been investigated for different mixture compositions. Under the above conditions, τ depends practically linearly on 1/P _s at P _s = 0.02−0.1 atm, irrespective of the mixture composition. This allows the measured τ data to be converted to one quantity, τP _s. The temperature dependence of τP _s in the P _s range from 0.02 to 0.1 atm is Arrhenius-like. For the hydrogen-rich mixtures (H₂/O₂ = 2–20), this dependence appears as τP _s= 0.057 + 0.0256exp(7470/T) μs atm; for the lean mixtures (H₂/O₂ = 0.125–1), τP _s = 0.021 + 0.0069exp(7470/T) μs atm. The length of the shock-heated gas plug in the incident shock wave poses limitations on the ignition delay time measurements at T < 900 K.     

Pressure dependence of the reaction Cl + C2H2 over the temperature range 230 to 370 K

The pressure dependence of reaction (1), Cl + C₂H₂ + M → C₂H₂Cl + M, has been measured by a relative rate technique using the pressure independent abstraction reaction (2), Cl + C₂H₆ → C₂H₅ + HCl, as the reference. Values of k₁/k₂ were measured at pressures between 25 and 1300 torr at four temperatures ranging from 252 to 370 K, using air, N₂, or SF₆ diluent gases. Low pressure measurements (10–50 torr) were performed at 230 K. Assuming a temperature-independent center broadening factor of 0.6 in the Troe formalism and using the established value of k₂, these data can be used to determine the temperature dependent high and low pressure limiting rate constants over the range of conditions studied in air for reaction (1): k_∞(1) = 2.13 × 10^?10 (T/300)^?1.045 cm³/molecule-s; and k₀(1) = 5.4 × 10^?30 (T/300)^?2.09 cm⁶/molecule²-s. Use of these expressions yields rate constants with an estimated 20% accuracy including uncertainty in the reference reaction. The data indicate that the rate constant for a typical stratospheric condition at 30 km altitude is approximately 50% of that previously estimated.