It was shown experimentally and theoretically that heat transfer between carbon clusters and gas mixture substantially affects on growth of soot particles during ethylene pyrolysis in the shock tube. We used photoemission pyrometer for measuring of temperature of submicron carbon particles with microsecond temporal resolution, and bitmapped electron microscope for studying of geometrical parameters of primary carbon nanoparticles. Mathematical model of the nonisothermal carbon nanoparticles growth and results of its simulation is presented also. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.