It is one of the most stable organic peroxides, due to the tert-butyl groups being bulky.

[1] The peroxide bond undergoes homolysis at temperatures above 100 °C.

For this reason di-tert-butyl peroxide is commonly used as a radical initiator in organic synthesis and polymer chemistry.

The decomposition reaction proceeds via the generation of methyl radicals.

DTBP can in principle be used in engines where oxygen is limited, since the molecule supplies both the oxidizer and the fuel.