Combustion Deposits are mostly carbon and aromatic compounds in a highly combustion resistant state. These deposits are the source of many engine problems, such as higher than normal fuel consumption, excessive harmful exhaust, and costly maintenance. Fuel problems and incomplete combustion ultimately cause complete engine failure.
Deposit formation begins with spherical molecules called primary particles and branched aromatic chains, both of which are produced in the early stages of combustion. The chain branches consist of alkyl, alcohol, carbonyl and carboxyl compounds. The alkyls oxidize to alcohol, oxidizing to carbonyl, oxidizing to carboxyl. The oxidation process stops with the carboxyl compounds, which are acidic and highly
combustion resistant with a high energy of activation.
The various branch compounds are attracted to the primary particles, which spin at extremely high velocities. When a branch becomes attached to a primary particle, the entire chain structure is quickly wrapped around the primary particle forming a secondary particle. These secondary particles agglomerate and form a tertiary particles. This can happen when several primary particles become attached to the same chain on different branches, and then simultaneously become secondary and tertiary particle, as they wrap up the chain.
Tertiary particles agglomerating on a surface will become further coated to form quaternary particle. The coated quaternary particles make up deposits. The chain structures coating the surface of deposits leave exposed branches. It is at these branches where AFC-705 catalyst begins to break down and destroy the deposits as it modifies the surfaces.
The carboxyl branches are acidic, and attract the AFC-705 catalyst oxide which is basic. When the two combine a process called dehydration occurs and a water molecule is produced. What remains is a compound with a low energy of activation, which readily breaks down at high temperatures, releasing a CO2 molecule and the catalyst oxide.
Upon releasing the CO2 and the catalyst oxide, the end of the chain re-oxidizes to an alkyl, alcohol or carbonyl compound and finally to a carboxyl compound. When the end of the chain reaches this state, the catalyst oxide once again combines with the carboxyl, and starts the break down cycle again. Over time, the deposits are removed by being converted to CO2 and water.
AFC-705 inhibits the formation of new deposits in much the same way as it destroys existing deposits. It interacts with the ends of the aromatic chains and the attachment sites on the primary particles. This interaction keeps the primary particles from wrapping up full chains, by blocking or destroying the attachment sites, and/or breaking the chains.
This interference stops the deposit agglomeration process at the primary and/or secondary particle agglomeration state. This results in much lighter and smaller particles that don't stick together and are more easily oxidized. The result of this interference is a lower mass of particulate emissions, and instead an increased energy output, and increased production of CO2 and water, which are the desirable end products of the combustion cycle.
Deposits are the major source of emissions. Eliminating deposits lowers the production of soot and smoke. The use of AFC-705 enhances energy output and optimizes the production of CO2 and water during the entire combustion process, which significantly lowers the output of both regulated and unregulated emissions.
