Combustion characteristics explosive limits

Hydrocarbons exhibit certain experimental combustion characteristics that are consistent both with the explosion limit curves and with practical considerations these characteristics are worth reviewing ... 

Propellants, explosives, and pyrolants are all energetic materials designed to have maximum energy density within a limited domain of mechanical sensitivities, manufacturing requirements, physical properties, and combustion characteristics. 

What problems face the theory of combustion The theory of combustion must be transformed into a chapter of physical chemistry. Basic questions must be answered will a compound of a given composition be combustible, what will be the rate of combustion of an explosive mixture, what peculiarities and shapes of flames should we expect We shall not be satisfied with an answer based on analogy with other known cases of combustion. The phenomena must be reduced to their original causes. Such original causes for combustion are chemical reaction, heat transfer, transport of matter by diffusion, and gas motion. A direct calculation of flame velocity using data on elementary chemical reaction events and thermal constants was first carried out for the reaction of hydrogen with bromine in 1942. The problem of the possibility of combustion (the concentration limit) was reduced for the first time to thermal calculations for mixtures of carbon monoxide with air. Peculiar forms of propagation near boundaries which arise when normal combustion is precluded or unstable were explained in terms of the physical characteristics of mixtures. 

Boiling point, °C 139 Melting point, °C -12 Flash point, 24 Relative density (water-1) 0.86 Relative vapor density (air-1) 2.5 Relative density at 20 C of saturated mixture vapor/iir(air-1) 1.01 Vapor pressure, mm Hg at 20oa.5.3 Solubility In water op Explosive limits, vol% in air - Relative molecular mass 74.1 Qross formula COLORLESS LIQUID WITH CHARACTERISTIC ODOR Vapor mixes readily with air. Nitrous gases are a product of combustion. Reacts violently with strong acids and strong oxidants. ... 

Boiling point, °C >180 Melting point, C <-20 Flash point. "C 55-100 Auto-ignition temperature, ° C 475 Relativs density (waters 1) 0.73-0.87 Relative vapor density (air 1) ca. 4.5 Vapor pressure, mm Hg at 20 ° C < 0.36 Solubility In water none Explosive limits, vol% in air 1.0-6.0 Electrical conductivity. pS/m 10 COLORLESS UQUID WITH CHARACTERISTIC ODOR Mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons with lower boRng point above 180 0. Flow, agitation etc. can cause build-up of electrostatio charge due to liquid s low conductivity. Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water are products of combustion. ... 

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