Adiabatic Calorimeter / Accelerating Rate Calorimeter

An accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) analyzes the properties of an exothermic reaction in a confined adiabatic environment, one in which minimal amount of heat is lost. While a completely adiabatic environment is impossible, accelerating rate calorimeters approximate one as much as possible. Because of the adiabatic condition, any heat generated by the material causes the sample to increase in temperature at an accelerating rate as the temperature increase fuels the reaction. Adiabatic calorimeters are used to study runaway reactions and are often used to evaluate the behavior of reactive hazards. Things to consider when purchasing an accelerating rate calorimeter include the temperature range, what other conditions can be tracked, and sample volume.