Fast-flow microwave discharge studies of the system cabon tetrafluoride-carbon tetrachloride

Abstract

Fast-flow microwave-induced glow discharge studies were carried out in systems containing CCl 4 and CF 4 at pressures in the region of 10-100 mTorr. The purpose of these investigations was to obtain information bearing on possible mechanistic steps in similar mixtures under γ-radiolysis. It was found that fragments from a discharge in CF 4 readily attack CCl 4 added downstream by displacement and abstraction processes giving cholorofluoromethanes and there is a similar although much less extensive attack of fragments from CCl 4 reacting with CF 4. Two-carbon fragments were noted in the mass spectrometer used to monitor the reactions only from discharges containing both compounds, indicating formation of chlorofluoroethanes by radical-radical combination reactions. There is some evidence for reactions involving difluorocarbene. These and other observations are consistent with the result of radiolysis experiments.