DEFLAGRATION

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A rapid combustion reaction which is propagated at a sub-sonic rate by heat transfer into the reacting material. This reaction is accompanied by a vigorous evolution of heat and flame. The flow of reaction products is in the direction opposite that of the combustion propagation (unlike DETONATION). Deflagration is usually dependent upon having fuel and oxidizing agent in very close contact, either from having the fuel as a finely divided mixture with the oxidant, or by combining the two in the same chemical compound or mixture. Deflagration exhibits a dependence upon the surrounding gas pressure.