Thermal explosion simulation and incompatible reaction of dicumyl peroxide by calorimetric technique

Dicumyl peroxide (DCPO) is usually employed as an initiator for polymerization, a source of free radicals, a hardener, and a linking agent. In Asia, due to its unstable reactive nature, DCPO has caused many thermal explosions and runaway reaction incidents in the manufacturing process. This study was conducted to elucidate its essentially thermal hazard characteristics. In order to analyze the runaway behavior of DCPO in a batch reactor, thermokinetic parameters, such as heat of decomposition (ΔH _d) and exothermic onset temperature (T ₀), were measured via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermal runaway phenomena were then thoroughly investigated by DSC. The thermokinetics of DCPO mixed with acids or bases were determined by DSC, and the experimental data were compared with kinetics-based curve fitting of thermal safety software (TSS). Solid thermal explosion (STE) and liquid thermal explosion (LTE) simulations of TSS were applied to determine the fundamental thermal explosion behavior in large tanks or drums. Results from curve fitting indicated that all of the acids or bases could induce exothermic reactions at even an earlier stage of the experiments. In order to diminish the extent of hazard, hazard information must be provided to the manufacturing process. Thermal hazard of DCPO mixed with nitric acid (HNO₃) was more dangerous than with other acids including sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), and hydrochloric acid (HCl). By DSC, T ₀, heat of decomposition (ΔH _d), and activation energy (E _a) of DCPO mixed with HNO₃ were calculated to be 70 °C, 911 J g⁻¹, and 33 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively.     

Thermal runaway reaction evaluation of benzoyl peroxide using calorimetric approaches

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) has been used as initiator or medicine in the chemical industries. Several thermal runaway reactions, fires, and explosions have occurred in Taiwan due to its thermal reactivity and explosive properties. A serious accident was analyzed occurring at Fu-Kao Chemical Plant in Taiwan because of runaway reaction in a batch reactor including methyl acrylate (MA), acrylic acid (AA), and BPO. This accident resulted in one death and more than 100 injuries. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (TG) were used to investigate and calculate the thermal hazard and safety parameter of BPO. Finally, the effects of MA and AA mixed with BPO by DSC/TG were analyzed in this study. The T ₀ of BPO was 109 °C in this study. Therefore, the T ₀ of BPO/MA was calculated to be 105 °C by DSC. AA and MA were identified as catalyst for thermal decomposition of BPO.     

Thermal hazards evaluation of the synthesis of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - This study focused on the assessment of thermal safety associated with the synthesis of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO), a reaction known to be...     

Thermal hazard evaluation of tert-butyl peroxide using non-isothermal and adiabatic calorimetric approaches

Tert-butyl peroxide (TBPO), is a typical organic peroxides (OPs),which is widely applied as initiator in poly-glycidyl methacrylate (PGMA) reaction, and is employed to provide a free-radical in frontal polymerization, and which has also caused many thermal runaway reactions and explosions worldwide. To find an unknown and insufficient hazard information for an energetic material, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and vent sizing package 2 (VSP2) were employed to detect the fundamental thermokinetic parameters involving the exothermic onset temperature (T ₀), heat of decomposition (??H _d), temperature rise rate (dT · dt ^?1), time to maximum rate under adiabatic situation (TMR_ad), pressure rise rate (dP · dt ^?1), and maximum pressure (P _max), etc. The T ₀ was calculated to be 130?°C using DSC and VSP2. Activation energy (E _a) of TBPO was evaluated to be 136?kJ?mol^?1 by VSP2. In view of the loss prevention, calorimetric applications and model evaluation to integrate thermal hazard development are adequate means for inherently safer design.     

Thermal decomposition kinetic evaluation and its thermal hazards prediction of AIBN

AIBN (2,2′-azobis (isobutyronitrile)), widely used for blowing agent and initiator, is a typical self-reactive material, being capable of undergoing runaway reaction due to its self-heating during storage or transportation. In this study, the thermal decomposition process of AIBN was studied by differential scanning calorimetry at different heating rates. The kinetic parameters including the activation energy and pre-exponential factor at different stages were calculated, and the laws of parameter variation were analyzed using the software, named as Advanced Kinetics and Technology Solutions, which can also predict the thermal stability of decomposition process at actual situations, such as ton and kg scale. The results show that heating rate can influence evidently the thermal behavior of AIBN, which can decompose in liquid phase or in liquid–solid co-existing phase, or, even decomposes in solid phase; according to Friedman method, the value of the calculated activation energy is 122 kJ mol^?1; according to Ozawa method, the value decreases gradually with the reaction process, and the smallest one is 124 kJ mol^?1. By mg-scale prediction under isothermal condition, it is known that AIBN decomposes at 30 °C (room temperature), very slowly; by ton-scale prediction under adiabatic condition, the safety diagram of AIBN is acquired, which shows how the time to the maximum rate changes with the initial temperature under ideal adiabatic condition (Φ = 1), for example, for TMR_ad = 24 h, the corresponding mean temperature (i.e., TD₂₄) is 71.23 °C, and for the initial temperature 71.23 °C, the lower and upper limits of the confidence intervals (95 % probability) are 18.5 and 31 h; by kg-scale prediction, it is obtained that the self-accelerating decomposition temperature of 50 kg AIBN with standard package is 63 °C, which is close to that of ARC.     

Thermal hazards evaluation of cumene hydroperoxide mixed with its derivatives

Over 90% of the cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) produced in the world is applied in the production of phenol and acetone. The additional applications were used as a catalyst, a curing agent, and as an initiator for polymerization. Many previous studies from open literature have verified and employed various aspects of the thermal decomposition and thermokinetics of CHP reactions. An isothermal microcalorimeter (thermal activity monitor III, TAM III), and a thermal dynamic calorimetry (differential scanning calorimetry, DSC) were used to resolve the exothermic behaviors, such as exothermic onset temperature (T ₀), heat power, heat of decomposition (ΔH _d), self-heating rate, peak temperature of reaction system, time to maximum rate (TMR), etc. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry was used to analyze the CHP products with its derivatives at 150 °C. This study will assess and validate the thermal hazards of CHP and incompatible reactions of CHP mixed with its derivatives, such as acetonphenone (AP), and dimethylphenyl carbinol (DMPC), that are essential to process safety design.     

Thermal hazard evaluation of tert-butyl hydroperoxide mixed with four acids using calorimetric approaches

Possessing thermal instability inherently, organic peroxides have caused many severe accidents in chemical industries all over the world. tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) is usually used as initiator or oxidant because of its strong oxidizing ability in the chemical process. In this study, the thermal hazard analysis of TBHP mixed with various acids was investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and vent sizing package 2 were used to figure out the thermal runaway behaviors of TBHP. Thermokinetic parameters, such as exothermic onset temperature (T ₀), maximum temperature (T _max), and enthalpy (ΔH), were obtained from thermal curves. In addition, the activation energy (E _a) and rate constant (k) were calculated by the Arrhenius equation. Therefore, the T ₀ was determined to be 91.6 °C for exothermic reaction using DSC under 4 °C min^?1 of heating rate. The E _a for exothermic reaction was calculated to be 92.38 kJ mol^?1 by DSC in this study. As far as loss prevention is concerned, thermokinetic parameters are crucial to the relevant processes in the chemical industries, particularly under process upsets.     

Thermal hazards evaluation for sym-TCB nitration reaction using thermal screening unit (TSU)

A set of experiments was conducted in an HEL thermal screening unit with synthetic mixtures of raw materials in various proportions to evaluate the potential thermal hazards at normal and offset process conditions for nitration of symmetrical trichlorobenzene (TCB). The experiments were carried out in the adiabatic condition. The onset temperatures of the exotherms along with maximum temperature and pressure rise data for the desired and undesirable reactions were obtained. In the presence of excess nitric acid and oleum, the reaction shows a severe thermal runaway at the onset temperature of 138°C with a rapid rise in temperature and pressure leading to a potential explosion. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal and calorimetric investigations on beryllium periodate hydrates

The thermal decompositions of two beryllium periodate hydrates, Be(IO₄)₂·8H₂O and Be(H₄IO₆)₂·2H₂O, were studied by DTA and TG in the temperature range from 298 to 1073 K, and by DSC from 298 to 723 K. The intermediates of the thermal decompositions were identified via quantitative analysis, IR spectroscopy and the TG curves. The data obtained were utilized to suggest a scheme for the thermal decompositions of the two periodates. Both compounds decompose via an anhydrous beryllium iodate, and the final residue is beryllium oxide.The enthalpies of the phase transitions were determined from the DSC curves.

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Zusammenfassung Die thermische Zersetzung der Berylliumperiodat-hydrate Be(IO₄)₂·8H₂O und Be(H₄IO₆)·2H₂O wurde im Temperaturbereich 298–1073 K durch TG-DTA und von 298–723 K mittels DSC untersucht. Zwischenprodukte der thermischen Zersetzung wurden durch quantitative Analyse, IR-Spektroskopie und TG-Kurven identifiziert. Im Ergebnis wird ein Schema für die thermische Zersetzung der beiden Periodat-Hydrate vorgeschlagen. Beide Verbindungen zersetzen sich über wasserfreies Berylliumiodat Be(IO₃)₂ als Zwischenprodukt, das feste Endprodukt ist BeO. Die Umwandlungsenthalpien werden aus den DSC-Kurven abgeschätzt.

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— Be(IO₄)₂·8₂ Be(₄IO₆)·2₂ — 298–1073 298–723 . , . . . .

     

Experiences with the kinetical evaluation of calorimetric differential thermal analysis traces

Due to automatic computation the determination of kinetical data of chemical reactions is a routine today. Based on several years of experience in this field this paper shows — after a short introduction into the measuring principle — how to get reliable results and how to control arising difficulties.     

Thermal analysis via molecular dynamics simulation

Thermal analysis by classical molecular dynamics simulations is discussed on hand of heat capacity of crystals of 9600 atoms. The differences between quantum mechanical and classical mechanical calculations are shown. Anharmonicity is proven to be an important factor. Finally, it is found that defects contribute to an increase in heat capacity before melting. The energy of conformational gauche defects within the crystal is only about 10% due to internal rotation. The other energy must be generated by cooperative strain. The conclusion is that the next generation of faster computers may permit wider use of molecular dynamics simulations in support of the interpretation of thermal analysis.Dedicated to Professor Bernhard Wunderlich on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Thermal polymerization of difurfurylideneacetone: X-ray structural and calorimetric studies

A calorimetric study has been made of the susceptibility of difurfurylideneacetone (DIFA) and its oxidized product to thermal polymerization. It has been established that the oxidation process takes place only on the surface of the crystals. An x-ray structural study of DIFA crystals has shown that solid-phase thermal polymerization takes place in the crystal matrix through one of the two ethylenic bonds of the molecule under conditions of topochemical control.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 606–610, March, 1991.     

Thermal behaviour and the cone calorimetric analysis of the jute fabric treated in different pH condition

In this paper, the effect of pH, i.e. acid and alkali was investigated on thermal stability of ligno-cellulosic polymeric fibrous (jute) material. The jute fabric was subjected to treatment under different pH, namely 4.5, 7, 10, 12, i.e. in acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions followed by drying prior to any thermal and physical characterization. The improvement in the thermal stability of jute to flame was measured in terms of limiting oxygen index value, vertical flammability and temperature profile of burning zone. Likewise thermo-gravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and cone calorimeter analysis were also used to elucidate the improvement in thermal stability of the treated fabric. The changes in heat release rate, mass loss rate, heat of combustion, smoke production, etc., in the untreated and treated sample were measured in detail in cone calorimeter. Only the alkali-treated jute fabric samples showed profound improvement in thermal stability.

     

Thermal runaway hazards of <Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl hydroperoxide by calorimetric studies

Thermal runaway reactions associated with exothermic behaviors of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) solutions and TBHP reacting with alkaline contaminants were studied. A differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to characterize these inherent behaviors of TBHP solutions with KOH, NaOH, LiOH and NH₄OH. The exothermic peak in thermal curves of TBHP solutions with different alkali were detected by DSC thermal analysis. By thermal analysis, we compared various heats of decomposition of TBHP solutions with alkaline impurities, and determined the incompatible hazards of various TBHP solutions with alkaline contaminants. Comparing with TBHP in various diluents, the adiabatic runaway reaction via vent sizing package 2 (VSP2) indicated that aqueous TBHP intrinsically possesses the phenomena of thermal explosion with dramatic self-reactive rate and pressure rise under adiabatic conditions. Many commercial organic peroxides may have different hazard behaviors. Therefore, using thermal method to classify the hazards is an important subject.     

Thermal analysis and simulation model of natural lithocholic acid

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Thermal behaviour of pure lithocholic acid was studied in a broad temperature range, from ?20 to 200&nbsp;°C, using several...     

Modelling and simulation of the operation of a calorimetric sensor for medical application

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this study, the crystallization process in a directional solidification furnace is studied by using the transient numerical simulation. The flow...     

Thermal risk assessment and rankings for reaction hazards in process safety

Thermal degradation of copolymers, prepared from glycidyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile in varying molar ratios using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator, was studied by thermogravimetry, derivative thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis and mass spectrometry. The fragmentation patterns in the mass-spectra were interpretable by comparison with the known degradation patterns of the related materials. Thermal kinetic parameters, including activation energies and order of reaction of the degradation of the prepared copolymers, were calculated from their thermoanalytical data. These parameters suggest an overall increase in thermal stability with increasing content of acrylonitrile in the copolymers.     

cEST: a flexible tool for calorimetric data analysis

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics of lignocellulosic biomass (cotton stalk) and seaweed (Gracilaria lemaneiformis) were studied comparatively....     

Thermokinetic prediction and safety evaluation for toluene sulfonation process and product using calorimetric technology

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Toluene sulfonation is a typical synthetic process in the modern chemical industry. However, there are unexpected thermal hazards in this process,...     

Thermal decomposition analysis of organic peroxides using model-free simulation

To understand better the thermal decomposition characteristics of organic peroxides, a C80 heat flux calorimeter was used and the decomposition pattern of cumene hydroperoxide and di-tert-butylperoxide were classified as auto-catalytic and n ^th order reaction, respectively. Based on the scanning results with the C80 at several differing rates of heating, the thermal decomposition behavior of organic peroxides under isothermal storage at lower temperature was simulated with a model-free simulation. Simulated results showed that the calculated conversion of cumene hydroperoxide as a function of time was in good agreement with experimental data obtained with the TAM-III high sensitivity thermal activity monitor.