Flow Reactor Experiments of High-Temperature Graphite Oxidation and Nitridation

Predicting the gas-surface interactions of solid carbon is necessary for the design of many engineering systems that employ graphite. Experimental determination of the reaction rates improves the fidelity of those predictions. Here, we studied oxidation and nitridation of graphite by thermal and nonthermal plasma assisted processes. Experiments were conducted at a pressure of 2 kPa, higher than previous flow reactor experiments of this kind and closer to the conditions experienced in engineering applications. At these higher pressures, the limitations of mass transport and the interference between oxygen and nitrogen species become important. Reaction rates were determined from mass loss, reaction products were identified with mass spectrometry, and surface roughening was characterized by electron microscopy. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)