Thermal behaviour and dissolution properties of phenylbutazone polymorphs.

Five different polymorphic forms of phenylbutazone were prepared and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (D.S.C.). Rapid heating rates produced single endothermic peaks due to melting but slower heating rates resulted in interconversion of three of the polymorphs to the more stable form. Interconversion on grinding the polymorphs was also observed. From equilibrium solubility and intrinsic dissolution rates it was concluded that the dissolution process could be described by the Berthoud model. The effect of some tablet excipients on the dissolution process is briefly reported.