Glass transition thermodynamic implications

As mentioned at the beginning of the chapter, it is not feasible to cover all aspects of the pharmaceutical uses of DSC in the space available hence, emphasis has been placed on what are probably the most important applications of the technique. Clearly, DSC may be used as a simple screening method, for example, in the identification of polymorphs or glass transitions. However, there are numerous ways in which the approach can yield a more sophisticated analysis with comparatively little additional effort. Examples outlined here include the predictability of the thermodynamic parameters associated with polymorphic transitions and the assessment of the relaxation behavior of glassy pharmaceuticals. Both these examples have very tangible practical implications for the prediction of stability hence, such studies are not simply academic exercises but may be of considerable benefit in formulation optimization. 

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