Dynamic polymorphic phase transitions in a model binary triglyceride system measured by position‐sensitive X‐ray diffraction methods

X‐ray diffraction measurements have been made on a binary mixture of pure tripalmitin and tristearin which undergoes particular polymorphic phase transitions on heating from the solid. The results were obtained using a position‐sensitive detector which can record the whole diffraction pattern in time periods less than a minute. This allows many patterns to be recorded during the transformations where heating rates can be up to several o C/min. As such the transitory existence of the intermediate β' phase has been unambiguously identified. The results serve to exhibit the usefulness of the X‐ray apparatus and indicate its potential for future studies in dynamic crystallization and melting.