Characterization of Solid Dispersion Phase Transitions Using a New Optical Thermal Analyzer

Abstract

The phase transitions occurring during the heating of progesterone PEG6000, and progesterone-PEG6000 solid dispersions (3% and 20% w/w) were studied. Investigations were performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical thermal analysis (OTA). For complex systems, such as solid dispersions, the use of OTA allow a new interpretation of the DSC results. For instance, we have shown that peaks which were at first appearance identified as two superposed endothermic peaks, were in fact the result of a more complex set of reactions including a melting, a devitrification, and a second melting reaction.