DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) is one of the most commonly applied thermal stability testing methodologies in reactive chemicals hazard evaluation. This is certainly because of many factors, including the relative low cost of the equipment, rapid turnaround time of experiments.. small sample size, ease of interpretation, relative accuracy of the calorimetric results, and the wide range of temperatures over which a DSC can operate. Traditionally DSC is mainly used as a screening method used to identify possible energy release hazards, which may require further; more sophisticated testing to elucidate and quantify the actual hazard. Practitioners have learned to maximize the information obtainable from DSC testing. This article highlights how DSC is applied to routine day-to-day hazard screening and summarizes the collective knowledge of Dow in this area for over 20 years. Some applications discussed include: recognizing thermal events from peak shape, high energy materials. chemical compatibility, and eliminating unnecessary testing. Also presented are examples of the limitations of DSC and examples where it should not be used. Finally this article discusses how DSC may be used to estimate reaction. kinetics by quantitative thermokinetic modeling. (c) 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.