Safe storage temperature of peroxide initiators: prediction of self-accelerated decomposition temperature based on a runaway heuristics

Organic peroxides are slightly stable substances that can self-decompose un der favourable conditions. During storage there can be a loss of activity i f the temperature is above the recommended storage temperature. At higher t emperatures this decomposition is self-accelerating. Many peroxides, are ex tremely shock sensitive or unstable in pure form and are; therefore, only c ommercially available in diluted solution. In this work, the thermal stabil ity of 44 compounds is evaluated. The method suggested here for predicting the self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT) is based on the nume rical solution of the equations derived from the mass and energy balances c oupled to a heuristics to recognise parameter sets that produce runaway. (C ) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.