A literature survey of the chemistry of flame inhibition

Evidence is beginning to accumulate indicating that catalytic recombination of oxygen atoms may be the mechanism of extinction of flames by halogenated extinguishing agents. The literature of flame inhibition and of oxygen atom chemistry has been examined to ascertain whether the available data would support such a mechanism. Considerable sustentative evidence was found. Kinetic rate-constant data are not available covering all reactions of interest, but those that are reported indicate that catalytic recombination of oxygen atoms can probably compete successfully with normal flame processes which require them.