Slow combustion of methyl ethyl ketone

Abstract

The slow combustion of methyl ethyl ketone has been carefully investigated in both the “high” and “low” temperature regimes. The products of reaction in the two temperature regions are different, and the study of the low temperature reaction is made difficult by the irreproducibility and extreme length of the induction period. The reaction involves free radical chains, with degenerate branching. At high temperatures formaldehyde brings about branching, whereas, at low temperatures, methyl hydroperoxide and peracetic acid are both involved in the multiplication of chain carriers.