The detection and inhibition of free radical chain reactions

Abstract

Part I. Comparison of nitric oxide and propylene as inhibitors The reduction by propylene of the rate of pressure increase in the decomposition of propaldehyde at 550° has been shown by chemical analysis to represent a true inhibition of the reaction, and not to be due n an important degree to an induced polymerization of the propylene. With propaldehyde and with diethyl ether the limiting values to which the decomposition rates are reduced by nitric oxide and by propylene respectively are the same, although much more propylene is required to produce a given degree of inhibition. From this it is concluded that the limiting rates are more probably those of independent non-chain processes, than those characteristic of stationary states where the inhibitor starts and stops chains with equal efficiency.