Determination of the macrokinetic thermal decomposition constants of nitrous oxide using critical ignition parameters

On the basis of experimental data on the ignition temperatures of pure nitrous oxide flow with $p$ = 0.3–4.1 MPa, and using the criterial equation given by the ignition theory of Ya. V. Zeldovich, we have computed the reaction order and the Arrhenius parameters for the process of thermal decomposition of N$_2$O. For $p>$ 0.7 MPa, we find good agreement with the established values recommended in the literature. Lower values of the effective activation energy are found for lower N$_2$O pressures; this is due to the influence of a heterogeneous catalytic surface.