Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Thermogravimetric Analysis

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) are two of the most widely used thermal analysis techniques in the characterization of crystalline and amorphous pharmaceutical materials. This chapter examines the instrumentation used to carry out DSC and TGA and present case studies that have utilized the two techniques in the study of pharmaceutical materials. DSC measures various thermal transitions associated with a material when it is heated or cooled in a controlled manner. Such transitions include melting, the glass transition, crystallization, polymorph conversion, desolvation, dehydration, and chemical reactions. DSC and TGA have diverse applications in the characterization of pharmaceutical materials. The chapter exemplifies some applications of DSC and TGA. DSC and TGA have been widely used to quantitatively characterize the dehydration and desolvation of pharmaceutical solvates and hydrates. TGA, for example, is very useful for studying the kinetics of dehydration and desolvation at constant temperature.