Compaction Force in Defining Tablet Quality
In tableting the compaction force is a crucial parameter that is a major driver for the final product’s properties. But its influence varies across different characteristics:
1. Weight and Weight Uniformity: In general, the weight of tablets remains unchanged by compaction force, ensuring dosage consistency but on rotary tablet presses the weight uniformity sometimes is influenced by the different vibrations at various forces.
2. Dimensions: Compaction force definitively affects the tablet dimensions, particularly its height, which is important for the following packaging step.
3. Crushing Force: An indicator of the tablet strength, the compaction force, when correctly applied, ensures the tablet can withstand handling without breaking apart or being too strong.
4. Friability: A low friability is crucial for a successful coating process and sometimes also for packaging. The right force can reduce friability, enhancing the tablet’s resilience.
5. Content Uniformity: As the weight uniformity this compaction force affects the content uniformity indirect e.g., by different machine performance at different compaction forces.
6. Bioavailability: The bioavailability can be impacted by the dissolution and disintegration of the tablets. A too high compaction force often leads to slower disintegration and therefore dissolution, which could affect the release and absorption of the API.
7. Stability: In general, neither the chemical nor the microbiological stability of tablets is influenced by the compaction force.
The link between all these influences is the tablet density.
Read also:
- Correlating Blend Assay and Tablet Content
- Process Capability and Performance Indicators
- Tablet Compression Cycle
