The Physics of Tablet Compression. II. The Influence of Degree of Compression on Properties of Table†‡

Abstract

A study has been made of the influence of compressional force employed in tablet compression on the apparent density, porosity, hardness, disintegration time, and average primary particle size of compressed tablets, The data obtained for the sulfathiazole granulations studied indicate that there is a logarithmic relationship between the compressional force and the apparent density or the porosity of the tablets and that the pressure distribution inside the die cavity during the compressional process appears to be quite uniform. Neither hardness nor disintegration time seems to be strongly influenced by granulation size distribution. The following appear to have linear relationships: the plot between Strong Cobb Hardness and the logarithm of the compressional force; hardness and porosity; and the logarithm of disintegration time when plotted against the compressional force. The specific surface areas of compressed tablets undergo marked changes during the compressional process, exhibiting pronounced maxima at 2,500 lbs. for ³/₈‐inch tablets.