Thermal pyrolysis of halon 1211 (CBrClF 2 ), diluted in nitrogen, in a tubular alumina reactor, has been studied over the temperature range of 773-1073 K at residence times from 0.3 to 2 s. At temperatures below 973 K, the major products were CCl 2 F 2 , CBr 2 F 2 , C 2 Cl 2 F 4 , C 2 BrClF 4 , C 2 F 4 , and C 2 Br 2 F 4 . Further increasing temperature resulted in the formation of CBrF 3 , CClF 3 , and many other species whose formation necessitated the rupture of C F bonds. Coke formation was also observed on the surface of the reactor at high temperatures. A kinetic reaction scheme involving 16 species and 25 reaction steps was developed and applied to model the thermal pyrolysis of halon 1211 over the temperature range of 773-973 K. Sensitivity analysis suggests that the reaction CBrClF 2 + CClF 2 → CCl 2 F 2 + CBrF 2 constitutes the major pathway for the decomposition of halon 1211 under the conditions investigated. C 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: [134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141][142][143][144][145][146] 2005