Study of the spontaneous ignition of stoichiometric tetrafluoroethylene–air mixtures at elevated pressures

The Ignition Temperature (IT) of stoichiometric tetrafluoroethylene–air mixtures on hot walls was determined in a 3-dm³-reactor. Tests at elevated pressure conditions were performed, namely at 5, 15 and 25 bar(a), showing a decrease of the IT with the initial pressure. Furthermore, the measured ignition temperatures of stoichiometric tetrafluoroethylene–air mixtures were lower than the ignition temperatures required for the decomposition pure tetrafluoroethylene (Minimum Ignition Temperature of Decomposition, MITD) reported in previous works.Equations from the Semenov thermal explosion theory on spontaneous ignition were used to identify approximate combustion kinetics of tetrafluoroethylene from the experimental results. The determined kinetics was used for the prediction of the IT of stoichiometric tetrafluoroethylene-air by simplified calculation methods. A very good agreement with the experimental results was observed.

► The spontaneous ignition of stoichiometric tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) mixtures in air at elevated pressures was studied.
► Lower ignition temperatures than for the decomposition of pure TFE were determined.
► Approximate combustion kinetics of TFE at elevated pressures has been derived from the experiments.
► Methods for the prediction of the spontaneous ignition of stoichiometric TFE–air mixtures have been provided.
► A good agreement with the experimental data was observed.