Melting point

Melting point analysis determines the solid-liquid transition temperature of a pure product or mixture. This fundamental thermodynamic parameter provides information about the purity, stability, and composition of a substance.
The melting point is a quality indicator used in many industrial sectors— food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, polymers, nutraceuticals —to control raw materials and validate processing methods.

A difference between the measured melting point and the theoretical value may reveal an impurity, thermal degradation, or crystalline change in the product.

Principle and method of analysis

The measurement of the melting point is generally carried out using two complementary approaches:

• Capillary method : the sample is placed in a capillary tube which is gradually heated until it melts completely. This simple method is suitable for pure and crystalline products (fatty acids, waxes, butters, excipients, active ingredients).
• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) : This high-precision technique measures the change in heat flux between the sample and an inert reference during the temperature rise. It allows the melting point, enthalpy of fusion, and thermal transition range .

DSC is particularly suitable for polymers , oils , complex mixtures and formulated products , where the transition can be influenced by composition, additives or moisture content.

For further studies, also see:

• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the analysis of thermal transitions,
• analysis (TGA) to monitor mass loss due to heat,
• and the measurement of the smoke point to assess the thermal stability of fats.

Industrial applications

Melting point analysis is used in many fields:

• Agri-food and nutrition : quality control of fats (butters, oils, margarines), monitoring of crystallization and detection of adulteration.
• Cosmetics : formulation of balms, lipsticks, creams or waxes, whose texture and stability depend on the thermal behavior of the ingredients.
• Nutraceuticals and animal health : verification of the stability of heat-sensitive plant extracts or active ingredients.
• Materials and polymers : evaluation of the purity and crystallinity of thermoplastic resins, films and composites.
• Plants and natural extracts : characterization of lipid or waxy fractions.

This analysis helps to ensure regulatory compliance, reproducibility and performance of finished products.

Analytical interest and complementarity

The melting point is often combined with other thermal and physicochemical measurements for a complete characterization:

• Enthalpy of fusion to quantify the energy required for the phase transition;
• Crystallization point for studying solidification and formulation stability;
• Melt flow index (MFI) to evaluate the viscosity of molten polymers;
• Accelerated aging tests to observe thermal variations over time;
• Liquid refractive index to control purity and concentration.

All of these analyses together provide a complete thermal signature of the product, useful for formulation, quality control or failure studies.

YesWeLab Services

ISO 17025 and/or COFRAC accredited laboratories specializing in thermal, physicochemical, and materials analyses .
Our experts select the most relevant method according to your objectives: polymer characterization, oil quality control, or ingredient stability studies.

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Since 2020, YesWeLab has been supporting manufacturers in the cosmetics, food, and materials industries with their analytical needs, providing precision and responsiveness.

For any specific request or quote, contact our scientific team today.