Combustion of PMMA, PE, and PS in a ramjet

Abstract The combustion behavior of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS) with air was investigated in a connected pipe test facility; spectroscopy showed the presence of OH, C2, and CH and temperatures between 1300 and 3000 K during combustion. Particular attention was focused on regression rate and combustion efficiency and the role of temperature and soot production. The present investigation gives an understanding of the most important phenomena that control (or emanate from) the combustion of a cylindrical solid fuel with a rearward facing step, and this has application for solid fuel ramjets, the safe burning of toxic waste, and hot gas generators. The results can be summarized as follows: