The measurement of high energetic materials by DSC is always very difficult. There is a risk that the instrument is damaged by kinetic effects or corrosion. If such damage occurs, the exchange of sensors and furnace parts is always expensive and, in most cases, requires professional service.
With the Linseis Chip-DSC, the exchange of sensor with integrated heater is easy, fast and can be done by the end user in approximately 15 min.
Highly energetic materials as used in airbags, as propellants, blasting materials etc. show a very sharp and high exothermic peak when decomposing. The example shows the DSC measurement of 2,8 mg of airbag igniter (propellant). At the ignition temperature of 280 °C, a very high, sharp peak occurs with an enthalpy value of more than 1 kJ/g. This result is very useful for calculation of needed amount of igniter and to get information about temperature stability of the substance.
