Modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry for examination of tristearin polymorphism: 2. Isothermal crystallization of metastable forms

The transformations of tristearin were examined by modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry (MTDSC) in order to examine the utility of this technique. Tristearin has been used as a model polymorphic system, showing metastable phases and complicated transformation routes occuring at relatively slow rates. The β′-forms generated by thermal treatment under modulation do not differ significantly from those generated by the corresponding treatment without modulation. While the total heat flow thermograms are similar, the deconvoluted reversing component shows that annealing, especially at 63°C, has a significant effect on the crystal size and perfection of the solid phases formed. MTDSC also enables the melting of β′ to be separated from the simultaneous crystallization of the β form as evidenced in the c _p component. Quantitative interpretations about such systems cannot be drawn from MTDSC at this point in time.