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Updated: Jul 25, 2025

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Published on: February 3, 2023
Moisture Behavior of Pharmaceutical Powder during the Tableting Process
Komlan Koumbogle1, Ryan Gosselin1, François Gitzhofer1
1Department of Chemical and Biotechnological Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.
Powder moisture accumulation during tableting can cause tablet sticking. This study simulated and measured moisture behavior, revealing that evaporated moisture at the punch-tablet interface induces capillary forces, leading to sticking.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Tablet sticking is a critical issue in pharmaceutical manufacturing, often linked to powder moisture content.
- Understanding powder moisture dynamics during compaction is essential for optimizing the tableting process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavior and distribution of moisture within pharmaceutical powder during the compaction phase of tableting.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which powder moisture contributes to tablet sticking.
Main Methods:
- Finite element analysis (FEA) using COMSOL Multiphysics® 5.6 to simulate powder compaction and predict moisture/temperature evolution.
- Experimental validation using near-infrared (NIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) cameras to measure tablet surface temperature and moisture post-ejection.
- Partial least squares regression (PLS) for predicting surface moisture content.
Main Results:
- FEA simulations predicted moisture evaporation from the powder bed during compaction.
- Experimental data showed increased tablet temperature and surface moisture post-compaction, with moisture decreasing over successive tableting runs.
- Simulated and measured moisture accumulation at the punch-tablet interface was observed.
Conclusions:
- Evaporated moisture accumulates at the punch-tablet interface, potentially forming capillary bridges.
- These capillary bridges can generate capillary forces, leading to tablet sticking during the tableting process.
- Controlling moisture behavior during compaction is crucial for preventing tablet sticking.
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