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Thermal Stability Test
Understanding how materials can decompose or react with one another is imperative because the consequences of mishandled exothermic chemical reactions can be devastating. Let us partner with you to classify your materials, identify hazards, and propose practical solutions to address your process, storage, and transportation needs.
DEKRA has a fully equipped laboratory, including:Reaction Calorimeter (RC1), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Accelerating Rate Calorimeter (ARC ®), to determine the thermal data necessary for thermal process safety and storage of chemicals, evolved gas collection and analysis, physical properties testing and transportation requirements testing under the United Nations guidelines (including UN/DOT H.2, UN/DOT H.4).
DEKRA can provide answers to the basic questions asked in understanding of thermal data:
- What quantity of energy release is dangerous?
- How can the potential adiabatic temperature increase and the time to the maximum rate adiabatic be used to determine a worst-case scenario and its consequences?
- How can the thermal data of the desired and unintended reactions be combined to develop cooling failure scenario and its criticality?
- How can decomposition reactions be characterized, including identifying if they are autocatalytic?
DEKRA has global reach with decades of calorimetry testing and engineering services for many industry segments. We will partner with you to select the right strategy that fits your specific needs. Contact Us to request more information.
DEKRA Specialized Testing
Powder Layer Screening Test (or Air Over Layer Test)
The powder layer test is used to evaluate the thermal stability of powders and dusts in dryers where heated air is circulated over a powder layer. It is intended to simulate the conditions to which materials are exposed in various types of dryers, including tray, band, and cross-flow.
Bulk Solid Screening Test
The Bulk Solid Test is used to evaluate the thermal stability of bulk solids, powders, and dusts during drying and related operations. It is intended to simulate the conditions to which materials are exposed when they collect in certain types of dryers or downstream in hoppers, silos, drums, or bags.
Aerated Solid Screening Test
The Aerated Powder Test is used to evaluate the thermal stability of powders and dusts during drying operations in which a heated air stream passes through the material, such as in circulating band and fluidized bed dryers.
Isothermal Test - Basket Test
Isothermal Basket Tests is a more exacting test which can be used to identify the minimum onset temperature of exothermic activity for a powder or dust sample This can be used to determine the maximum safe operating or storage temperature for virtually any vessel size or geometry.
Self-Accelerating Decomposition Tests (SADT)
SADT tests are used to provide critical information on the thermal stability of the materials in storage and transportation. DEKRA provides testing for both the UN/DOT H.2 and H.4, as well as full scale package testing per UN/DOT H.1. We can also provide information on the Self Accelerating Polymerization Temperature (SAPT) for the materials.
Thermal stability testing evaluates how materials behave when exposed to elevated temperatures. A thermal stability test can help determine whether a material may self-heat, decompose, generate pressure, or create other thermal hazards during processing, storage, transportation, or drying operations.
Some materials can become unstable when exposed to heat for extended periods. Thermal hazard testing helps organizations identify safe operating temperatures and reduce the risk of self-heating, decomposition, fires, thermal runaway events, and product degradation.
Thermal stability analysis is commonly performed on powders, dusts, bulk solids, chemicals, intermediates, finished products, and other materials that may experience elevated temperatures during processing or storage. The appropriate testing method depends on the material and the thermal conditions being evaluated.
SADT is the lowest temperature at which a material may undergo self-accelerating decomposition in its packaging during storage or transportation. Thermal decomposition testing can provide information used to support transportation safety and applicable regulatory requirements.
A basket test is a form of self-heating testing used to identify the onset temperature of exothermic activity. The results can help organizations determine maximum safe operating and storage temperatures for materials.
Organizations often conduct thermal stability testing during process development, scale-up activities, dryer design projects, storage evaluations, and transportation classification projects. Testing may also be appropriate following formulation changes or as part of process hazard assessments.
Process safety thermal testing provides data that can be used to establish safe operating limits, evaluate self-heating risks, and support hazard assessments. It can also help identify conditions that may lead to decomposition or thermal runaway events.
Thermal stability testing is widely used in chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, food processing, energy, and agricultural products. Industries that handle powders, dusts, or thermally sensitive materials may also require appropriate thermal stability analysis.
After testing, organizations receive technical data concerning decomposition behavior, onset temperatures, self-heating characteristics, and other thermal properties. This information can support engineering, safety, transportation, and operational decisions.
An independent thermal stability laboratory provides specialized equipment, recognized testing methods, and experienced technical personnel. These capabilities can generate reliable thermal hazard data for important safety, engineering, operational, and compliance decisions.
