NTO center dot DNAZ was prepared by mixing 3,3-dinitroazetidine (DNAZ) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) in ethanol solution. The thermal behavior of the title compound was studied under a non-isothermal condition by DSC and TG/DTG methods. The kinetic parameters were obtained from analysis of the DSC and TG/DTG curves by Kissinger method, Ozawa method, the differential method and the integral method. The main exothermic decomposition reaction mechanism of NTO center dot DNAZ is classified as chemical reaction, and the kinetic parameters of the reaction are E-a = 149.68 kJ mol(-1) and A = 10(15.81) s(-1). The specific heat capacity of the title compound was determined with continuous C-P mode of microcalorimeter. The standard mole specific heat capacity of NTO center dot DNAZ was 352.56 J mol(-1) K-1 in 298.15 K. Using the relationship between C. and T and the thermal decomposition parameters, the time of the thermal decomposition from initialization to thermal explosion (adiabatic time-to-explosion) was obtained. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.