Simulations for evaluation of kinetic methods in differential scanning calorimetry .3. Peak maximum evolution methods and isoconversional methods

Various peak maximum evolution methods and isoconversional methods are compared, and the specific characteristics of each method are shown, from a mathematical viewpoint and by using simulated data. A convenient way of correcting the activation energy of the Ozawa method is proposed. Isoconversional methods should be preferred to peak maximum evolution methods, especially when an interpolation on the power and/or the temperature is performed. In the case of a complex mechanism of two parallel reactions, peak maximum evolution methods give only a mean value of the kinetic parameters, while isoconversional methods are useful in describing this complex mechanism. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.