Calorimetric studies on the thermal stability of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) formulations

The energetic decomposition of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) and its formulations have long been known to present a significant risk. Indeed, MEKP has the highest number of reported decomposition incidents of all organic peroxides, many of which have led to significant numbers of fatalities, injuries and damage. It is noteworthy that incidents have been reported at all stages of the product lifecycle.This paper is derived from incident-investigation work and provides a summary of serious incidents involving MEKP, followed by details of calorimetric experiments performed to investigate thermal stability of representative MEKP formulations containing varying amounts of MEKP monomer. In particular we report the wide degree of variation that exists between commercial MEKP formulations, even between materials that are of the same nominal formulation. Such variations are detectable using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).Follow-up studies performed on a representative MEKP formulation containing MEKP monomer indicate that a risk of decomposition exists at temperatures well below the reported self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT) of the products. As such, the experimental results reported here suggest that lower storage temperatures (commonly recommended by manufacturers to maximise shelf life) should be considered as being essential throughout the product lifecycle to reduce the risk of accidents in storage and transportation.     

Effect of urea on detonation characteristics and thermal stability of ammonium nitrate

A study has examined the effect of urea on the thermal stability and detonation characteristics of ammonium nitrate (AN). The thermal decomposition temperature and surface morphology of samples were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For further research on the thermal sensitivity and shock sensitivity of the samples, the Koenen test and UN gap test were conducted. The results indicate that urea can substantially increase the thermal stability of AN (the greatest exothermic peak is increased by more than 100 °C) and reduce the thermal sensitivity of AN. However, AN-50wt. % urea mixtures can still produce a steady detonation in the UN gap test. Urea cannot reduce the ability to propagate a detonation. Possible explanations for these results are discussed.     

Thermal decomposition mechanism of 65% lysine sulfate powder and its thermal stability based on thermal analysis

Lysine is widely used in the fields of food, medicine and feed, which generally appears in the form of lysine sulfate or lysine hydrochloride dust because of the high instability of the free L-lysine. The L-lysine Sulfate is in high risk of decomposition, spontaneous ignition and even the dust explosion, because the control temperature in its production process is high up to 90 °C. Thus, the thermal behaviors and its thermal stability of 65% lysine sulfate are experimentally explored in Air and Nitrogen using the simultaneous TG-DSC measurements. Results show: (1) the decomposition of 65% lysine sulfate can be divided into three stages both in the atmospheres of air and nitrogen, and most of the weight loss occurred in the first two stages, which are related with the decarboxylation and deamination process. (2) The effects of atmosphere on the decomposition of 65% lysine sulfate mainly occur at the third stage. In this stage, the weight loss in nitrogen is only 14.2%, which is much lower than that in air (34.3%), which is related to the oxidative degradation at high temperature. Besides, the active energy is slightly increased in nitrogen compared to that in air. (3) The initial temperatures of the decomposition of the 65% lysine sulfate are 145 °C and 155 °C, for the air and nitrogen atmosphere, respectively, which are much lower than that (260 °C) of the pure lysine.     

细水雾对锂离子电池热失控抑制作用的实验研究

为研究细水雾对锂离子电池热失控的抑制作用,利用自设计细水雾实验装置对18650型锂离子电池热失控进行抑制实验,对比两节电池依次燃爆和不同阶段使用细水雾的温度曲线。研究表明,细水雾对于抑制锂离子电池热失控有效,但不同热失控阶段细水雾抑温效果差异较大,结合锂离子电池多米诺效应和机载灭火设备适航性要求,应尽可能将细水雾喷雾时间节点靠近初次爆炸的时间节点。提出通过准确探测初次爆炸发生和进一步增强细水雾抑制作用来控制锂离子电池热失控及多米诺效应的发生和传播。     

Using thermal analysis with kinetic calculation method to assess the thermal stability of 2-cyanopropan-2-yliminourea

Azo compounds, which are commonly used as initiators and blowing agents, are also typical self-reactive materials capable of undergoing runaway reaction during storage and transportation, which can cause severe fires and accidents. To ensure the thermal safety of azo compounds in the process, transportation, and applications, this study investigated 2-cyanopropan-2-yliminourea, which can also be called V-30. First, thermal decomposition characteristics under the non-isothermal conditions were obtained using differential scanning calorimetry. Second, the collected data were combined with a mathematical model to evaluate the primary thermal hazard during the process for V-30. Then, based on a heat-transfer model, the self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT) was extrapolated for consideration and non-consideration of consumption of chemicals. The results showed that SADT of V-30 was less than 80 °C. Therefore, it is essential to avoid a temperature beyond SADT or the cooling system will fail. The influence of consumption was also considered for SADT in this study.     

Micro calorimeter study on the thermal stability of lithium-ion battery electrolytes

With the extensive applications of lithium-ion batteries, many batteries explosion accidents were reported. The thermal stability of lithium-ion battery electrolyte could substantially affect the safety of lithium-ion battery. The C80 micro calorimeter was used to study the thermal stability of several commonly used organic solvents and electrolytes. The samples were heated in argon atmosphere and air atmosphere, respectively. The chemical reaction kinetics was supposed to fit by an Arrhenius law, then the self-accelerating decomposition temperature was calculated. It is found that most of the samples are stable in argon atmosphere while decomposing in air atmosphere, and the single organic solvent is more stable than the electrolyte generally.     

过硫酸铵的热稳定性研究

采用绝热加速量热仪(Accelerating Rate Calorimeter,ARC)对正常和潮湿条件下的过硫酸铵进行对比热容分析试验,得到了不同条件下过硫酸铵样品的热分解温度和压力随时间的变化曲线及压力和温升速率随温度的变化曲线.分析了过硫酸铵的热分解过程,用速率常数法计算了表观活化能Ea和指前因子A,得到了样品在最危险状态即绝热状态下的初始放热温度、初始温升速率、最大温升速率、自反应放热最高温度、绝热温升等反映其热稳定性的参数.结果表明,在绝热环境中,潮湿条件下的过硫酸铵比正常条件下更具有热危险性,更易发生自反应放热分解,且过程更加剧烈.过硫酸铵在储存过程中若不慎与水或潮湿空气接触,应尽量进行通风冷却和干燥处理,防止发生自分解放热进而引发火灾.     

氯化钠和二氧化硅对过硫酸铵热稳定性的影响

采用绝热加速量热仪（ARC）对分析纯过硫酸铵、含10%氯化钠杂质的过硫酸铵以及含10%二氧化硅杂质的过硫酸铵进行热分析实验,得到了实验过程中温度、温升速率和压力等数据,计算了3组样品的反应动力学参数,引入热惰性因子对实验数据进行修正,得到了3组样品在严格绝热条件下的热危险性参数,分析了3组样品的反应过程和热危险性。通过Semenov理论计算了3组样品的自加速分解温度（SADT）。结果表明,过硫酸铵加入氯化钠或二氧化硅杂质后,热危险性增大,自加速分解温度降低,更容易发生反应且反应更剧烈。     

典型热塑性聚合物热解行为研究

利用热失重分析仪采用不同的加热速率对典型热塑性聚合物PP(聚丙烯)、PE(聚乙烯)和PMMA(聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯)在空气氛围中的热解行为进行了研究,通过热失重TG和微商热失重DTG分析了三种聚合物的热解过程及加热速率对热解过程的影响,通过Coats-Redfern方法建立了聚合物的热解动力学模型,并分析讨论了聚合物的热解机理和氧气对热解的影响,最后通过计算曲线和实验曲线的比较,验证了该文聚合物热解动力学模型的可靠性。     

丁基钠黄药热稳定性的研究

为评价丁基钠黄药的热稳定性,采用真空安定性测试仪和C600量热仪对其热分解过程进行了研究。分别考察了质量为1.0g的样品在温度为60℃、70℃、80℃、90℃、100℃和质量为0.5g、0.75g、1.0g、1.25g、1.5g、1.75g、2.0g的样品在温度80℃条件下的热分解特性。结果表明,采用真空安定性测试仪在80℃、21mL真空封闭空间的测试条件下,当丁基钠黄药质量小于1.25g时,其平均分解速率较慢,与时间近似成线性关系;当样品质量大于1.50g时,其平均分解速率与时间近似呈一条S形曲线。平均分解速率与质量不是成正比,而是先增加后减小,质量为1.65g时,平均分解速率最大,为0.0957mL/(g.h)。采用C600量热仪确定了丁基钠黄药的分解过程为吸热反应,起始分解温度为93℃,分解过程吸收热量为110.51J/g。明确了温度、堆积样品量的大小和时间为影响丁基钠黄药热稳定性的主要因素。     

Numerical simulation of the thermal inertia of an adiabatic reaction calorimeter in reaction thermal safety process

Obtaining accurate thermal risk assessment parameters of chemical processes and substance properties is essential for improving the safety of chemical production and substance use and storage, and the adiabatic reaction calorimeter (ARC) has been employed by many researchers for this purpose. However, with the improvement and upgrading of the instrument, an examination of the factors that affect its detection accuracy is warranted. A simplified reaction model of the adiabatic thermal decomposition of tert-butyl peroxyacetate was constructed using computational fluid dynamics in which the adiabatic thermal decomposition kinetic model and fluid-solid coupling model were combined to simulate heat transfer. To verify the reliability of the parameters of the numerical calculation model, the effects of the sample cell's material, wall thickness, and mass were investigated in relation to the thermal inertia of the ARC. The results indicated that the thermal inertia of the system was lowest when the sample cell was composed of titanium. When the sample pool's composition is determined, the thermal inertia of the system can be reduced to a certain extent through an approximate increase in the sample mass. Finally, an analysis of the heat flow cloud diagram of the wall of sample pools made from different materials revealed that the thermal conductivity of titanium was high; this information can assist in controlling the adiabatic process.     

The inhibitory combustion reaction performance and tail gas analysis of composite ultra-fine dry powder extinguishing agent containing different additives

For lack of an extinguishing agent with high-efficiency, non-toxic and environmentally friendly, a new type of extinguishing agent was fabricated to solve such an urgent problem. In this study, the zinc borate (ZB) and ferrocene (Fe(Cp)₂) were utilized as two additives for extinguishants to suppress combustion reaction and the toxicity of the tail gas was detected. The mass fraction of ZB corresponding to the optimal inhibitory effect was determined to be 0.5–1.5%, by contrast, the optimum interval of Fe(Cp)₂ was detected as 0.5–1.0%. Similarly, with the increasing proportion of the two additives, the homologous inhibitory action was gradually weakened. From the perspective of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), it was indicated that the ZB accelerated the pyrolysis process of the extinguishant, making its thermal decomposition process more thoroughly. Meanwhile, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated that the decomposition efficiency was markedly improved when the amount of ZB was maintained at 0.5–1.5%. Besides, the tail gas tests were implemented to assess the extent of toxic and harmful properties. In terms of the carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) generated, once the mass fraction of ZB and Fe(Cp)₂ was less than 1.5% and 1.0% respectively, the concentration of CO and CO₂ was distinctly lower than that without additives. Moreover, the inhibitory ability on nitrogen oxides (NOx) was enhanced when the mass fraction of the two additives was kept below 1.0%. The results confirmed that a more practical extinguishant was proposed and it can provide guidance for the application and development of extinguishants.     

Using thermal analysis with kinetic calculation method to assess the thermal stability of azo compound on construction materials

The application of construction polymers in engineering and alternative materials has always occupied a place in the market. In the production process of polymer resins, initiators can be used to lower the polymerization reaction energy threshold, which can improve reaction efficiency and reduce energy loss. However, as a commonly used energetic substance in the polymerization process, azos have caused related process hazards due to their exothermic characteristics. Because of this, it is essential to examine and analyze the thermal hazard characteristics of emerging azo substances, such as 2-cyanopropan-2-imemicarbazide (CABN). Although previous literature performs the calculation on related thermal hazard parameters of CABN, there is still exists a void for discussion in estimating the reaction model to avoid analogous hazards and enhance the existing thermal analysis. Based on the past literature, the reaction model is improved with thermogravimetric analysis as evidence. The revised thermal hazard parameters are calculated as the basis of control and mitigation measures, the kinetic model is used to estimate the modified safety parameters, and in the judgment of the runaway reaction, the critical temperature of the runaway is found by analyzing the influence of slight changes in ambient temperature on the reaction temperature. The results show that the critical temperature that causes CABN to enter the runaway reaction is delayed, and the hazard is lower than in the storage situation. Therefore, the thermal hazard to CABN mainly focuses on the safety environment and measures during storage.     

氯离子和pH值对硝酸铵水溶液热稳定性的影响研究

为了研究氯离子、pH值对硝酸铵水溶液热稳定性的影响,采用绝热加热仪对高温状态下硝酸铵水溶液的热稳定性进行了研究.80%硝酸铵水溶液的试验表明,硝酸铵水溶液的临界爆炸温度范围为224～241 ℃,该爆炸温度范围与参考文献提到的210～260 ℃硝酸铵的分解特性十分接近,证明使用的测试系统性能良好.在酸性条件下,pH值一定时,氯离子浓度越大,硝酸铵溶液越不稳定,溶液的临界爆炸温度越低;而在碱性和中性条件下,随着温度的增加,氯离子有抑制硝酸铵分解的作用;氯化物存在时,硫酸可促进硝酸铵溶液的分解.     

4种硝酸酯热安定性的绝热试验研究

利用绝热加速量热仪(ARC)对硝酸正丙酯(NPN)、硝酸异丙酯(IPN)、太根(TEGDN)、敌根(DEGDN)4种硝酸酯的热稳定性进行了绝热试验研究,得到绝热放热曲线和热分解特征参数。分析了4种物质分解过程的特点,对测试结果进行了修正。计算得到动力学参数和自加速分解温度SADT,以此作为评估热安定性的判据。结果表明,4种硝酸酯在外界热作用下容易发生分解,反应速度较快,伴随明显的热效应和压力效应。4种硝酸酯的热安定性由好到差排序为:IPN、NPN、TEGDN、DEGDN。     

Theoretical and experimental studies on the thermal decomposition of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dibutyl phosphate

Ionic liquid, an organic molten salt, has efficient flame-retardant performance. Few researchers have attempted to study its flame-retardant mechanism. Moreover, thermal stability and pyrolysis products have a great impact on the flame retardancy. Therefore, this paper focused on the phosphate ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dibutyl phosphate ([Bmim][DBP]) and analyzed its thermal decomposition products and characteristics. The major bond energies of [Bmim][DBP] were calculated using B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p)//M06–2X/6–311++G(d,p) level. The experimental results show that the pyrolysis products were as followed: alkane or alkene with a carbon chain length of 1–4; imidazole and its derivatives; esters. Furthermore, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer were utilized to measure the gaseous products and solid phase products of [Bmim][DBP], which were obtained during thermogravimetric analysis. The results of theoretical and experimental analysis were highly consistent. Finally, the possible flame-retardant mechanism of [Bmim][DBP] was proposed.     

飞火和热辐射耦合作用点燃松针的实验研究

飞火颗粒点燃和火焰辐射引燃是森林-城镇交界域火灾两种主要引燃方式。已有很多研究关注单种引燃方式,但缺乏二者耦合作用下的引燃机理研究。实验研究了热颗粒与热辐射耦合作用下松针燃料床的点燃行为,分析了热颗粒尺寸、温度及辐射热通量对点燃特性的影响。实验结果表明:热颗粒和热辐射耦合作用的点燃危险性远远高于热颗粒或者热辐射单独作用下的点燃危险性。耦合作用时,点燃概率随颗粒尺寸、温度和辐射热通量增大而增大,热颗粒临界点燃温度以及临界辐射热通量均随热颗粒尺寸增大而降低;阴燃向明火转变的点燃时间随辐射热通量增大而降低,但与颗粒状态呈现出较为复杂的关系。     

Effects of environmental temperature on the thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries during charging process

Lithium-ion batteries with relatively narrow operating temperature range have provoked concerns regarding the safety of LIBs. In this work, a series of experiments were conducted to explore the thermal runaway (TR) behaviors of charging batteries in a high/low temperature test chamber. The effects of charging rates (0.5 C, 1 C, 2 C, and 3 C), and ambient temperature (2 °C, 32 °C and 56 °C) are comprehensively investigated.The results indicate that the cell exhibited greater thermal hazard at the high charging rate and ambient temperature conditions. As the charging rate increased from 0.5 C to 3 C, more lithium intercalated in the anode prompt the TR triggered in advance, the TR onset temperature decreased from 297.5 °C to 264.7 °C. In addition, the charging time decreased with the elevated ambient temperature, resulting in a relatively higher TR onset temperature and lower maximum temperature, and the average TR critical time declined by 115–143 s. Finally, the TR required less heat accumulation with increasing of charging rate and ambient temperature, and the heat generation of side reaction played a substantial role that accounted for approximately 54%∼63%. These results provide an insight into the charging cell thermal runaway behaviors in complex operation environments and deliver valuable guidance for improving the safety of cell operation.     

纳米铝粉对烟火药剂热安全性影响研究

为研究铝粉纳米化后对烟火药剂性能的影响,本文将普通铝粉和纳米铝粉分别与氯酸钾、硫粉按照零氧平衡的同一配比（17％AL＋63％KClO3＋20％S）配成的烟火药剂进行ARC热分析对比试验发现,含纳米铝粉的烟火药剂热分解的初始反应温度降低,反应到达最大温升速率所需的时间延长,反应所能达到的最高压力降低。这说明纳米铝粉的加入在加速其反应进程的同时,可有效地降低其反应的激烈程度和危险性,即铝粉纳米化后可以有效的改善烟火药剂的性能,提高其安全性。