Application of non-isothermal dilatometry for evaluation of kinetic parameters in non-reversing reactions

Abstract

The applicability of the non-isothermal dilatometric technique for the investigation of rate processes is discussed. Equations have been derived for a non-reversing reaction, which may be used to calculate the kinetic parameters from non-isothermal dilatometric curves. The main advantages of the approach are considerable economies in experimental procedure and the avoidance of experimental errors associated with the onset of reaction before isothermal conditions are attained. The position of the inflection point on the dilatometric curve and the slope at that point give the activation energy and frequency factor of the reaction. The usefulness of the new approach is demonstrated by the good agreement between values of activation energy obtained by the new equations and reported literature values for the second and third stages in the tempering reaction of a plain carbon steel.