Thermal Decomposition of Methanol behind Shock Waves

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of methanol in argon behind incident and reflected shock waves is studied. The reaction was followed by ultraviolet (UV) absorption between 1900 and 2200 Å and by infrared (IR) emission of methanol at wavelengths 2.4–2.9 µm, 3.1–3.9 µm and 4.8–5.2 µm and of formed species at wavelengths 2.7 µm, 3.6 µm and 4.9 µm. The temperature and the density dependences of the decomposition rate constants were observed at temperatures from 1500 to 1900 K, at total densities from 10 -5 to 2×10 -4 mol/cm 3 and at concentrations from 0.01% to 1.0% methanol. The experimentally-determined signals are compared with the calculated values and the density-dependent rate constants of the unimolecular reaction of methanol are obtained.