High temperature pyrolysis of ethane and propylene

Abstract

A spectrophotometric investigation of the pyrolysis products of shock heated ethane and propylene under the conditions 1600–2300 K, 1–2 bar, mol fraction 0.43–2.0 % in argon has shown products which are optically absorbing in the wavelength range 250–320 nm. The shape of the absorption spectra were similar to those observed from acetylene and ethylene pyrolysis and are postulated to be polyacetylenes. The results are consistent with acetylene being an intermediate in the pyrolysis reaction.