Effects of the mechanical energy of multi-tableting compression on the polymorphic transformations of chlorpropamide

The effects of the mechanical energy of tableting compression on the polymorphic transformation of chlorpropamide have been examined. A single-punch eccentric tableting machine with a load cell and a non-contact displacement transducer were used to measure compression stress, distance and energy. An amount of 100 mg of the stable form A or the meta-stable form C of the drug was loaded into the press and the sample compressed with a compression stress of 196 MPa at room temperature (20 degrees C). The compression cycle was repeated from 1 to 30 times. The powder X-ray diffraction profiles of the deagglomerated compressed sample powder were measured to calculate the polymorphic content. The results on forms A and C suggested that both forms were transformed into each other in the solid state by mechanical energy during tableting. The contents of forms A and C reached equilibrium at a constant value above 100 J g-1 of compression energy after more than 10 cycles. After 30 tableting cycles of forms A and C, the contents of A, C and the non-crystalline solid were almost constant at about 45, 25 and 30%, respectively. The compression energies were estimated to be about 500-600 J g-1. From the results it seems that the transformation mechanism of forms A and C during tableting were as follows. The crystal form of A or C was converted to a non-crystalline solid by the mechanical energy, and the solid was then transformed into form A or C.