n-Butanal is a key stable intermediate during the combustion of n-butanol, and as such strongly affects its chemical kinetics. In this study, ignition delay times of n-butanal/oxygen diluted with argon were measured behind reflected shock waves in the temperature range of 1100-1650 K, at pressures of 1.3, 5 and 10 atm, and equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0. An n-butanal sub-model was developed on the basis of literature review, and exhibits fairly good agreement with the experimental results under all test conditions. Reaction pathway and sensitivity analysis were conducted to gain an insight into the controlling reaction pathways and reaction steps. (c) 2013 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.