title: The influence of varying precompaction and main compaction profile parameters on the mechanical strength of compacts.
abstract: The purpose of this work was to investigate how altering the method of force application could be beneficial to tablet production in order to increase tablet strength and eliminate or minimize the incidence of capping and lamination. An integrated compaction research system (i.e., compaction simulator) was used throughout this study. Compaction profiles containing a single compaction event and a double (pre- and main) compaction event were created. The ratio and magnitude of the pre- and main compaction pressures were varied and the time interval between the pre- and main compaction events was altered to determine the effects on the crushing strengths and capping tendency of the final compacts. In all cases, for a given pressure, the double compaction event produced stronger tablets than the single compaction event. When the ratio and magnitude of the pre- and main compaction pressures were varied, the results differed depending on the material undergoing compaction. Dicalcium phosphate/microcrystalline cellulose and pregelatinized starch tablets had no significant difference in crushing strength values regardless of whether the precompaction pressure was less than or greater than the main compaction pressure. However, both direct compression (DC) acetaminophen and DC ibuprofen were found to have increased crushing strengths and decreased capping/lamination when the precompaction pressure was less than the main compaction pressure. When the time interval between the pre- and main compaction events was varied from 30 to 500 msec, no significant difference in the crushing strength or capping/lamination tendency was observed. It was concluded that the effect of altering the ratio and magnitude of the pre- and main compaction pressures varied from one material to another, suggesting that the profiles should be tailored individually for the specific material undergoing compaction.
authors: Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA.
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Ruegger
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Celik
mesh_terms: D013607:Tablets; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D013607:Tablets