Thermal hazard evaluation of AIBME by micro-calorimetric technique coupled with kinetic investigation

2,2′-Azobis (2-methylpropionate) (AIBME) is a new type of environmental-friendly oil-soluble azo initiator, extensively applied in the radical polymerization industry relying on its extraordinary thermal and physicochemical properties. Nevertheless, the special structure makes AIBME decompose easily under low ambient temperature with a tremendous amount of heat release. To qualify its thermal hazard and obtain the specific safety parameters such as time to maximum rate under adiabatic condition ( TMR ad ) and self-accelerating decomposition temperature ( SADT ), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), simultaneous thermogravimetric analyzer (STA), and accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) were applied to analyze the thermal behaviors of AIBME while conducting the thermokinetic analysis and numerical curve fitting. The results indicate that AIBME decomposes at low temperature, and the SADT of AIBME in 25 kg UN package is 35.2 °C. Moreover, the temperature at TMR ad = 8 h is determined at 51.6 °C using Townsend method. Compared with commercially used azo compounds, such as 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and 2,2-azobis(2-methylbutyronitrile) (AMBN)), the predominant heat of decomposition, more gaseous degradation products, quicker heat release rate, and lower decomposition temperature make AIBME more hazardous during production, storage, and transportation. The results of this study can provide the references for the process safety assessment and the design of appropriate safety system in scale-up applications with the wish to avoid the occurrence of AIBME involved accidents.