Thermal parameters study of 1,1-bis(tert-butylperoxy)cyclohexane at low heating rates with differential scanning calorimetry

Having two active peroxide groups, 1,1-bis(tert-butylperoxy)cyclohexane (BTBPC) has a certain degree of thermal instability. It is usually used as an initiator in a chemical process, and therefore, careless operation could result in severe accidents. This study emphasized the runaway reactions of BTBPC 70 mass% (4.5–5.2 mg), the relevant thermokinetic parameters, and the thermal safety parameters. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to evaluate the above-mentioned thermokinetic parameters, using four low heating rates (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 °C min−1) combined with kinetic simulation method. The results indicated that apparent exothermic onset temperature (To), apparent activation energy (Ea), and heat of decomposition (ΔHd) were ca. 118 °C, 156 kJ mol−1, and 1,080 kJ kg−1, respectively. In view of process loss prevention, at the low heating rates of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 °C min−1, storing BTBPC 70 mass% below 27.27 °C is a more reassuring approach.