Assessing tablet bond types from structural features that affect tablet tensile strength

The aim of this article was to study the possibility of assessing the structural features affecting tablet tensile strength to obtain information on the dominating bond types, i.e. interparticulate attractions, in tablets.

The features of the internal tablet structure considered to be important for tablet tensile strength were assessed using a simple tablet model for tablets made from seven materials: potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, lactose, sucrose, microcrystalline cellulose, and ascorbic acid.

Tablet porosity and particle size (measured as external specific surface area by permeametry) were the structural features that best correlated with tablet tensile strength. These features were described by a "structural factor," which was combined with tablet tensile strength, as an "interaction factor," to reflect the dominating bond types in tablets.

The qualitative results gave dominating bond types in the tablets studied that matched the results of earlier studies, thus supporting the applicability of the method.