Droplet combustion of chlorinated benzenes, alkanes, and their mixtures in a dry atmosphere

The size and velocity of burning droplets were measured during the combustion of three chlorobenzenes and five alkanes. Variations of the droplet burning rates for the mixtures were qualitatively similar when viewed as functions of the chlorine to hydrogen atomic ratio. The burning rate first declined and then slightly increased as this ratio increased. The burning rate fell sharply near a Cl/H ratio of 0.5 to about the vaporization rate of pure chlorobenzene. The enhanced burning rate observed when an alkane is blended into a pure chlorobenzene is partly due to the hydrogen provided by the alkane. A similar effect appears attainable by adding water vapor to the gas phase.