Flame propagation in mixtures of monogermane and oxygen. I. Limits, flame propagation characteristics, and gas-phase products

The concentration limits for flame propagation in GeH$_4$–O$_2$ (air) mixtures are determined over a wide range of initial pressures (0.7–100 kPa) at room temperature. Flame propagation is found to be of a chain-thermal character and excited intermediate particles are involved in the reactions which limit the branching rate. The gas-phase reaction products (H$_2$O$_2$, H$_2$O, and H$_2$) are determined and its is shown that the relative yields of these components and the stoichiometry, as a whole, vary with the composition of the initial gas mixture. Chemically induced decomposition of GeH$_4$ by a branching-chain oxidation process for oxidation of the hydride by oxygen is observed.