Adiabatic power compensation differential scanning calorimeter

A method for determining a temperature rise and a temperature rate of a self-heating sample or chemical reaction, the method comprising:

• providing an adiabatic power compensation differential scanning calorimeter comprising:
• a sample container configured to house a sample;
• a sample compensating heater block isothermally coupled to and enclosing the sample container;
• a sample temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the sample container;
• a reference container configured to house a reference material or none;
• a reference compensating heater block isothermally coupled to the reference container;
• a reference temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the reference container;
• at least one furnace configured to adiabatically shield the sample compensating heater block from the reference compensating heater block during a preprogrammed temperature ramp and a self-heating temperature ramp of the sample material;
• and
• a heat compensation control and measurement system for self-heating rate, adiabatic temperature and pressure rises, and activation energy of an exothermic reaction;
• providing ramp-up heating power to heat the sample container and the reference container based on a preprogrammed temperature ramp rate;
• minimizing a temperature difference among the sample container, the reference container, and the at least one furnace, and allowing the temperature of the sample container, the reference container, and the at least one furnace to follow the preprogrammed temperature ramp rate;
• providing compensating heat to the sample container and the reference container when a self-heating activity of the sample material is detected;
• providing container-only compensating heat to the sample container to block heat transfer from the sample material to the sample container once the self-heating activity of the sample material is detected, and allowing the temperature of the sample material to depart from the preprogrammed temperature ramp rate and self-propel to reaction completion;
• and
• providing compensating heat to the reference container to facilitate container-only compensating heat calculation and control.