An in situ X-ray small angle scattering study of soot morphology in flames

X-ray small angle scattering from flames has been reported for the first time. A butadience/air slot burner and a liquid-fuelled wick burner have been studied using a synchrotron radiation source and exposures of less than 15 minutes. Data analysis assumed the presence of a distribution of spherical soot particle diameters; the following most probable diameters were obtained: butadiene/air slot burner, 210 A; allyl alcohol wick burner, 250 A; Diesel-fuelled wick burner, 310 A. Possible improvements to the technique, its relation to optical Mie scattering, and future directions are also discussed.