The Determining Role of Heterogeneous Reactions of Atoms and Radicals in the Spread of a Flame

Abstract—The dependence of flame propagation characteristics on heterogeneous reactions of atoms and radicals at atmospheric pressure has been established. It is noted that in addition to participating in the termination of reaction chains, adsorbed hydrogen atoms experience heterogeneous chain development: they react with O2 with the formation of HO2 radicals, as determined using laser magnetic resonance. In the flame, HO2 radicals with H atoms form OH radicals; thus, heterogeneous chain development occurs. The flame changes the chemical properties of the surface. It is concluded that the identified mechanism and the equations obtained on its basis quantitatively describe the observed patterns.