6. Conclusion

Controlling the nature of solid phases in solution, and in particular polymorphism, is an important area of development for both academia and industry, given the scientific and economic stakes involved.

Knowledge of the thermodynamics of a polymorphic solvent/solute system is necessary, but not sufficient, to develop a process for obtaining a given polymorphic variety. While thermodynamics can be used to classify polymorphs according to their stability, knowledge of polymorph generation and crystal phase transition kinetics can be used to define the crystallization process needed to achieve this objective.

This article contains two key points:

• The mechanisms involved in the generation of solid phases and in solution transitions between polymorphs are non-specific, and are those encountered...