Monday 5 September 2016

Troubleshooting for the Hardness, Friability and sticking during the compression of Tablets

Issues that are related to the hardness and friability of the tablets are frequently encountered during compression. The wise approach to resolve these problems is to start with the simplest solution before considering the complex, time consuming fixes.
Compression force of the Rotary tablet press machine can easily be controlled by adjusting the speed of its rotation. Slow speed of rotation provide more force of compaction and vice versa. Performing a fine tuning of the rotation speed is one of the simplest solution for adjusting the hardness of the tablets.
Moisture content, on the other hand, also affect the hardness by creating a binding force between the granules. Increasing the moisture in the granules can also increase the hardness but elevated moisture levels can induce sticking during compression. Usually the moisture content of the grains is maintained below 3% to avoid sticking. Therefore, it is wise to consider other fixes if the moisture is already near 3%,
Humidity in the environment also impart an important effect during the compression. Higher humidity values can increase the moisture content of the grains and induce sticking or issues related to the friability. To avoid this issue, humidity must be maintained between 40-50%.
Sometimes the heat that is generated during the compression due to the force of friction, which is created between the punches and the dye, melt the grains and lead to sticking during compression. In such cases refrigeration of the grains reduce the incidence of sticking.
Punches and dyes of the tablet press machine must have a smooth polished surface in order to overcome the issues like picking or sticking.
To conclude, there must be a harmony between all the physical and environmental parameters to achieve a tablet of desired characteristics.

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