The field of solid state characterization is central to thepharmaceutical industry, as drug products are, in an overwhelmingnumber of cases, produced as solid materials. Selection of theoptimum solid form is a critical aspect of the development ofpharmaceutical compounds, due to their ability to exist in morethan one form or crystal structure (polymorphism). These polymorphsexhibit different physical properties which can affect theirbiopharmaceutical properties.This book provides an up-to-date review of the currenttechniques used to characterize pharmaceutical solids. Ensuringbalanced, practical coverage with industrial relevance, it covers arange of key applications in the field.The following topics are included:* Physical properties and processes* Thermodynamics* Intellectual guidance* X-ray diffraction* Spectroscopy Microscopy* Particle sizing* Mechanical properties* Vapour sorption* Thermal analysis & Calorimetry* Polymorph prediction* Form selection