Thermal decomposition and fire‐extinguishing mechanism of CF3I: A combined theoretical and experimental study

Abstract As Halon extinguishers impose severe damage to the stratospheric ozone layer, Halon substitutions are urgently desired and explored. In this paper, the thermal decomposition mechanism, the fire‐extinguishing performance and mechanism were experimentally and theoretically investigated for Trifluoroiodomethane (CF 3 I). The theoretical results direct that CF 3 I and its main decomposition products (CF 3 · and I·) can react with OH· and H· to block the combustion chain reactions. Besides, reaction kinetics analysis also direct that CF 3 · and I· are more easily generated during the interaction between CF 3 I and the flame. And the minimum fire‐extinguishing concentration (MEC) of CF 3 I in extinguishing methane‐air flames is 3.42 vol%, which is lower than those of representative HFCs and HFO‐1336mzz(E) and even comparable to that of Halon 1301. Both the experimental and theoretical results suggest the promising applicability of CF 3 I in practical Halon replacement and the necessity of its further evaluation.