Mass spectrometry study of decomposition of exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene by low-power, low-pressure rf plasma

The plasma cracking of exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene (JP-10) (C10H16) is investigated using a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The relative densities of the JP-10 molecule and its principal decomposition products, including H2, are determined for varying rf powers in the range of 3–30 W, using the measured ion intensities combined with ionization cross section data from the literature. The extent of the cracking of JP-10 and the formation of H2 as functions of the rf power are discussed.