The thermodynamic driving force in the kinetic evaluation of thermoanalytical curves

This paper outlines the different ways of taking the distance from thermody namic equilibrium into account in kinetic studies based on thermoanalytical experiments. The three main approaches are: (i) avoiding or neglecting the effect of the reverse reaction, (ii) describing the influence of distance from equilibrium on apparent kinetic parameters, and (iii) incorporating a driving force factor in the rate equation. Finally, the contradiction of th e microscopic nature of the processes and the macroscopic character of the usual rate equation are briefly discussed.