Mechanical properties of compacts and particles that control tableting success

The use and limitations of linear-elasticity equations for describing mechanical properties of compacts is discussed; the limitations occur because compacts are porous, viscoelastic, nonhomogeneous, Mohr bodies. Awareness of these properties permits meaningful comparisons to be made. Ignoring limitations may result in unjustified conclusions. Special care during measuring mechanical properties of compacts is required. The mechanical criteria for a successful formulation are good flowability for powders and adequate strength without fracture for compacts. Interparticle attraction is spontaneous but particle contact numbers and size are limited by mechanical preclusion. Plastic deformation and fracture mechanics are controlling mechanisms with the magnitude of elastic constants having little effect on the successful processing. General compaction characteristics can be appraised by using combinations of properties, e.g., specific tableting indices.