Solution calorimetry measures the heat of solution of a solid dissolving into a solvent. Hogan & Buckton (2000) have shown there is a measurable difference in the enthalpies of solution between the amorphous and crystalline form of a material. Typically, the dissolution of a crystalline material is an endothermic process and exothermic for an amorphous material. Such an ability to differentiate between the amorphous and crystalline form of a material is important to formulators of solid dosage forms for drug delivery.

In all of these forms the assessment of the order or possible disorder associated with the solid material is vital for stability and compatibility testing. Generally the presence of amorphous material influences the physical integrity and usually the kinetics of degradation. Often, only a small amount of amorphous material can produce severe effects on the stability of a particular formulation.