Thermal Decomposition Properties and Thermal Hazard Assessment of Di(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl) Peroxide (DCBP)

Di(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl) peroxide (DCBP), as an important organic peroxide (ops), is commonly used as a vulcanizing agent in the vulcanization process of organosilicon pressure-sensitive rubber belts. Due to double peroxide bonds, DCBP may incur decomposition and release much energy. The thermal decomposition characteristics of DCBP were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The initial decomposition temperature (T0), peak temperature (Tp), and heat of decomposition (ΔH) have been obtained from non-isothermal experimental data. The autocatalytic properties are determined by DCBP isothermal experiments. Based on the Kissinger, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Starink, and Malek methods, the kinetic analysis of the experimental results obtained from the non-isothermal experiments was carried out. The three kinetic factors, such as the apparent activation energy Eα, the pre-exponential factor A, and the mechanism function f(α), were calculated. The thermodynamic parameters such as the maximum temperature rise rate ((dT/dt)max) and adiabatic temperature rise (ΔTad) under adiabatic conditions were obtained by accelerated rate calorimetry (ARC). The kinetic factors were calculated. The risk assessment of DCBP was carried out through the oxygen balance method and Self-Accelerating Decomposition Temperature (SADT) to provide safety guidance for DCBP in practical applications.