Model-Free Analysis in Kinetics Neo

Model-free analysis allows for determination of the activation energy of a reaction process without assuming a kinetic model for the process. Also, the reaction type is usually not required to calculate the activation energy. However, it is not possible to determine the number of reaction steps, their contribution to the total effect or the order in which they occur.

Model-free analysis is based on two assumptions:

1. The reaction can be described by only one kinetic equation for the degree of reaction α:

where E(α) is the activation energy depending on the conversion α, and A(α) is the pre-exponential factor.

2. The reaction rate at a constant value of conversion is only a function of temperature.

In Kinetics Neo, the following methods can be used:

• ASTM E698,
• ASTM E2890,
• ASTM E1641,
• Isothermal Arrhenius for time-to-event,
• Dynamic Arrhenius for failure temperature (ASTM E2070D),
• ASTM E2070(A) for isothermal data,
• Friedman,
• Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW),
• Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS),
• Numerical Optimization (Kinetics Neo only).

The Friedman analysis is an isoconversional method whereas the Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW) and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) analyses are integral isoconversional methods. In all methods, the measurements are analyzed for multiple conversion levels. Friedman requires at least two measurements.

In addition to two dynamic measurements, OFW and KAS require positive heating rates.

The Numerical Optimization uses digital simulation in determining the activation energy and pre-exponential factor to achieve the best agreement between simulated and experimental curves. At least two measurements are required.

In all of the methods, the activation energy is determined using the points at the same conversion (0.01, 0.02, …, 0.99) from the measurements at different heating rates or under different isothermal conditions (for Friedman and Numerical Optimization).

• Analysis graph with Y-axis:
• log (heating rate),
• log (heating rate/T2),
• log dx/dt versus 1000/T,
• log(time) versus 1000/T;
• Plots of activation energy and pre-exponential factor vs. conversion;
• Master plot for f(α);
• Conversion fit.