Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Handbook: Production and

6.6
TABLET COMPRESSION
Helton M. M. Santos and Jo ã o J. M. S. Sousa
University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Contents
6.6.1
6.6.2
6.6.3
6.6.4
6.6.5
6.6.6
6.6.7
6.6.8
6.6.9
6.6.10
6.6.1
Introduction
Theory of Particle Compaction
Compactibility
Tablet Compression
Equipment for Tablet Compression
Tablet Press Tooling
Tablet Engraving
Tablet Shape and Profi le
Tablet Bisect
Problems during Tablet Manufacturing
6.6.10.1 Capping and Lamination
6.6.10.2 Picking and Sticking
6.6.10.3 Mottling
6.6.10.4 Weight and Hardness Variation
References
INTRODUCTION
Tablets are the most important pharmaceutical dosage from and their design has
always been of great interest to pharmaceutical engineering. Since tablets are made
by a process of die compaction, although commonly called tablet compression, many
investigations have been involved in the task to describe the mechanisms involved
in this process. Nevertheless, some considerations should be taken regarding the
defi nitions of stages involved in tablet compression. Compression is one of two
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Handbook: Production and Processes, edited by Shayne Cox Gad
Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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