Mass-spectrometric analysis of the products formed in a D.C. Arc Plasma

Abstract

The carbon content was determined in the plasma of horizontal electric arc discharging between carbon electrodes in a) a graphite tube and b) a ceramic tube, in the presence of an inhomogeneous magnetic field. After 20 s of discharge, the carbon content reaches in the case a) a value of 8% and in the case b) a value of 3%. The compositions of the air plasma with 8% and 3% of carbon, respectively, in the temperature range of 500-6000 K were calculated according to the method described by White [8, 9] and the results obtained were compared with the experimental data. Carbon is present below 5000 K mainly in the form of CO and CO2. © 1980 Springer-Verlag.