Choosing the Sample to be Analysed

The dissolution in a solvent obviously reduces the decomposition energy. Nevertheless, this reduction is not always proportional to the concentration, since a solvent may interfere in the decomposition mechanism. Moreover, the position of the peak in the thermogram, being the temperature range where it is detected, is often shifted towards a lower temperatures, which means loss of stability. 

A particularly critical case is the exothermal decomposition immediately following the endothermal melting peak. In such cases, the decomposition is faster in the liquid than in the solid state. In an industrial environment, this could mean that a hot spot may melt a small part of the solid, which begins to decompose and the decomposition may propagate through the entire volume of the product. In such cases, the definition of a safe operation temperature becomes critical. 

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