Thermal hazard evaluation by an accelerating rate calorimeter

An accelerating rate calorimeter was developed for thermal hazard evaluation to provide time—temperature—pressure data for chemical reactions taking place under adiabatic conditions. The data interpretation is illustrated with an nth-order reaction. An approximate analytical solution for the time-to-maximum-rate is formulated, and its accuracy and utility are discussed. The technique was applied to a study of the thermal decomposition of N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluene sulfonamide, commonly known as Diazald®, and a complex runaway reaction taking place in a monomer system.