Standardizing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermal decomposition temperatures at various heating rates of an energetic material as a threshold one

Abstract

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test is capable of providing comprehensive data of peak temperature ($T_p$, K) and onset temperature ($T_o$, K) at various heating rates (β) and widely applied in the thermal safety assessment of energetic materials (EMs). However, $T_p$ and $T_o$ ($T_{p/o}$) are variable, depending on β, making inconvenience and confusion in thermal stability of different EMs, in particular, in the case of testing conditions absent. This study aims to standardize $T_{p/o}$ at various β to $T_{p/o,\beta \to 0}$ as a threshold temperature of thermal decomposition. It is confirmed that Pow2P2 (two-parameter power function) is feasible to fit the $T_{p/o}-\beta$ relationship by any two experimental points, and extrapolate $T_{p/o,\beta \to 0}$. Thereby, $T_{p/o,\beta \to 0}$, as a single value of DSC test of one EM, benefits for thermal stability study.