THE LUMINOUS MANTLE OF FUEL-RICH OXYACETYLENE FLAMES: I. SPECTROSCOPIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS

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Abstract
The luminous mantle of fuel-rich oxyacetylene flames is a strong source of the 4050 Å bands of the C3 radical. As a preliminary to the study of the chemical kinetics involved in the formation of the electronically excited C3 radical, a temperature investigation of the luminous mantle has been undertaken. Rotational measurements are reported for the CH, C2, and OH bands over a range of burning mixtures of 2.3 to 4.2 times stoichiometric. Self-absorption is shown to occur for OH and C2 and is indicated for CH. After attempting to correct for this effect, an average rotational temperature for the three radicals of 3000 ± 200° K. decreasing to 2900 ± 200° K. is found to be applicable to the luminous mantle over the range of mixtures investigated. Vibrational temperatures obtained for CN and C2, together with predissociation studies of the CH radical, indicate that small departures from complete thermal equilibrium cannot be eliminated.

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