Particle formation in carbon suboxide pyrolysis behind shock waves

Carbon suboxide was pyrolysed behind shock waves in the temperature range f rom 1200 to 2400 K and pressures around 5.4 MPa using C3O2 concentrations b etween 0.03 and 1% in argon. The formation of solid carbon particles was fo llowed by laser light absorption technique at 632.8 and 1064 nm. The induct ion times are definitely shorter and the particle growth rate constants are higher than those obtained for soot formation of hydrocarbons. The yield o f soot particles does not depend on the C3O2 mole fraction and has a maximu m at around 1600 K. The visual impression of the electron microscope photos of the particles is similar to that of hydrocarbon soot particles. The dia meter of the primary particles is about 20 nm.