SHELL-MODIFIED SIKAREX CALORIMETER AS A SCREENING TOOL FOR RUNAWAY REACTIONS

Adiabatic or accelerating rate calorimetry and differential scanning c alorimetry (DSC) are both used for the study of runaway reactions. The application of DSC is limited to the study of solids and homogeneous liquid mixtures and generally no information is obtained on pressure d evelopment. Adiabatic calorimetry is laborious and lime consuming. Thi s paper describes the development of the Shell-modified Sikarex calori meter as a versatile screening tool for runaway reactions, combining a dvantages of both techniques. Its construction facilitates the study o f multiphase systems. A case history on the treatment of an organic mi xture with nitric acid demonstrates a few of the unique properties of the instrument.