Considerations on combustion and fire behaviour of materials: A change of mind during the 18th century

Author:

Guillaume Eric1,Marlair Guy2,Delacroix Alain3,Drysdale Dougal4

Affiliation:

1. Efectis Group, Espace Technologique, Saint Aubin, France

2. INERIS, Verneuil en Halatte, France

3. Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (retired), Paris, France

4. University of Edinburgh (retired), Edinburgh, UK

Abstract

Our knowledge of fire has advanced rapidly over the last few decades to a point where we now have a good understanding of the complex interactions between combustion chemistry, fluid dynamics and heat transfer. It took many centuries before the basic principles were resolved and we should not forget the remarkable achievements of early generations of scientists in the 17th and 18th centuries. This article traces the ideas that led to the development of our understanding oxidation, combustion and fire, from the age of the alchemist to the discovery of oxygen at the end of the 18th century. Fire was first understood in terms of its chemical aspect before its thermal one, but the discovery took time, as earlier theories adopted by alchemists were only replaced at the end of the 17th century by the ‘phlogiston’ theory from Becher and Stahl. This theory has been replaced less than a century after by the actual theory of oxidation, established on the basis of a rigorous theoretical and experimental work from Lavoisier and the discovery of oxygen by Priestley. In a few years, this theory passed from being marginal and resisted strongly by partisans of phlogiston, to being the only one commonly adopted. This history is an excellent example of how science advances, with conflicting theories being tested until one gains general acceptance after careful experimental work and subjection to the peer-review process.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Mechanical Engineering,Mechanics of Materials,Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

Cited by 2 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3