6.1 These test methods are useful for research and development, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and specification acceptance purposes.

6.2 The determination of the order of a chemical reaction or transformation at specific temperatures or time conditions is beyond the scope of these test methods.

6.3 The activation energy results obtained by these test methods may be compared with those obtained from Test Method E698 for nth order and accelerating reactions. Activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and reaction order results by these test methods may be compared to those for Test Method E2041 for nth order reactions.

1.1 Test Methods A, B, and C determine kinetic parameters for activation energy, pre-exponential factor and reaction order using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) from a series of isothermal experiments over a small (≈10 K) temperature range. Test Method A is applicable to low nth order reactions. Test Methods B and C are applicable to accelerating reactions such as thermoset curing or pyrotechnic reactions and crystallization transformations in the temperature range from 300 K to 900 K (nominally 30 °C to 630 °C). These test methods are applicable only to these types of exothermic reactions when the thermal curves do not exhibit shoulders, double peaks, discontinuities or shifts in baseline.

1.2 Test Methods D and E also determines the activation energy of a set of time-to-event and isothermal temperature data generated by this or other procedures

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 8.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.