The ignition characteristics of ethanol–oxygen mixtures have been studied behind reflected shock waves from 1080 to 1660 K, in the pressure range 1.8–4.6 bar and with equivalence ratios, ϕ, varying from 0.25 to 2, through measurements of the ignition delay times associated with pressure rise, τ_p, or light emission, τ_CO–O and τ_OH. Multiple regression analysis was applied to all the measured ignition delay times, τ in seconds, the reactant concentrations in mol cm^–3, and the corresponding temperatures in K, yielding the global relations: τ_OH= 10^–12.7 exp (+ 14780//_T)[C₂H₅OH]^–0.415[O₂]^–0.785[Ar]^+0.648, τ_{CO – O}= 10^–14.0 exp (+ 15550//_T)[C₂H₅OH]^–0.315[O₂]^–0.780[Ar]^+0.259, τ_P= 10^–14.0 exp (+ 16960//_T)[C₂H₅OH]^–0.130[O₂]^–0.784[Ar]^+0.140

The regression analysis of variance indicated that the fitted equations are good predictors of the data in each case and regression of τ_P on τ_CO–O showed that they are experimentally indistinguishable.