Critical examination of several problems typically found in the kinetic study of thermal decomposition under vacuum

Abstract

After considering several problems peculiar to the kinetics of thermal decompol sition under vacuum (formalism, separation of successive steps, influence of residuapressure and of heat or mass transfers) the author suggests, as a possible answer, the use of constant decomposition rate thermal analysis, in association or not with thermogravimetry or calorimetry. The interest of the method is shown for the following measurements: apparent orders of reaction, energies of activation, differential enthalpies of dissociation. It appears to be specially suited to the study of thermal decomposition under high vacuum.