The combustion characteristics and reaction mechanism of mixtures containing nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) were investigated. Burning velocities for H-2/NF3/N-2, CH4/NF3/N-2, and C3H8/NF3/N-2 flames were determined for the first time at various equivalence ratios and N-2 mole fractions. The burning velocities of the latter two flames were similar and showed peaks at equivalence ratios of similar to 1.0, while those of the H-2/NF3/N-2 flames had the pronounced peak at low equivalence ratios where the formation of the wrinkled flames was observed. A detailed kinetic model was constructed to simulate the laminar burning velocities of H-2/NF3/N-2 and CH4/NF3/N-2 flames. The model accurately reproduced the experimental results. Analyses of the reaction mechanism revealed the major reaction pathways that involve the decomposition of NF3, the oxidation and chain-fluoridation of H-2 and CH4, and the formation of N-2. (C) 2013 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.