Nitromethane pyrolysis in shock tubes and a micro flow reactor with a controlled temperature profile

Nitromethane has many applications, such as in racing, a gasoline fuel additive, and monopropellant. Despite large number of studies the small size molecule, combustion chemistry nitromethane is still not well understood. To improve models, pyrolysis (CH3NO2) was investigated experimentally shock tubes micro flow reactor with controlled temperature profile (MFR), under dilute conditions. Several spectroscopic diagnostics were used to follow concentration time histories CO, H2O (both using IR laser absorption), CH3NO2 (UV light absorption). A quadrupole mass spectrometer measure CH3NO2, NO2, CH4, C2H4, C2H2 at various temperatures MFR. These unique experimental results compared modern, detailed kinetics models from literature, no mechanism able reproduce these data over wide range conditions investigated. Predictions for CO levels generally inaccurate, predictions poor most cases MFR data. Importantly, all largely differ their predictions. numerical analysis performed identify ways next generation models. Results indicate that decomposition needs be improved below 1050 K, hydrocarbon-NOx interactions need further