A REVIEW OF THERMAL METHODS USED FOR THE ANALYSIS OF THE CRYSTAL FORM, SOLUTION THERMODYNAMICS AND GLASS-TRANSITION BEHAVIOR OF POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS

The uses, properties and structure of polyethylene glycols are discuss ed, with particular emphasis on pharmaceutical considerations. The app lications of thermal techniques in the characterisation of these mater ials in the solid or molten states and in aqueous solution are describ ed. More specifically, the uses of differential scanning calorimetry, solution calorimetry, modulated differential scanning calorimetry, dyn amic mechanical analysis and dielectric spectroscopy are outlined and the relative merits of the techniques discussed.