Summary
Polymorphism denotes the existence of more than one crystal structure of a substance. The intimate relationship between the structure and properties of materials means that different polymorphic structures of a material can and do have different physical, chemical biological or pharmaceutical properties. Such relationships can wreak havoc in the design, preparation, formulation and marketing of new materials and in the characteristics of old ones. While polymorphism has been recognized for 175 years there has been little concentrated effort to study the fundamental phenomenon, its causes and its manifestations. Most of the research on polymorphism has been carried out in isolated centers on different theoretical and experimental aspects of the phenomenon.
The purpose of this network was to create a framework for a coordinated and unified study of polymorphism, to enable a formal means for the interdisciplinary study of polymorphism, to train a cadre of personnel fluent and knowledgeable in the theoretical methods and experimental techniques used to study polymorphism, and to develop European expertise in polymorphism research and the utilization and exploitation of polymorphism for commercial purposes.
MORPH flyer (PDF 148 KB)
Duration
Three years, from January 2001 to December 2003.
