Tabletability and compactibility of α-lactose monohydrate powders of different particle size. I. Experimental comparison

In this paper, two types of parameters representing tabletability and compactibility profiles of a series of α-lactose monohydrate powders, ranging in particle size from approximately 3.5 to 203 µm, are derived and compared. By approximating the tabletability profiles using a three-stage model and the compactibility profiles using the Ryshkewitch-Duckworth equation, two compaction rate parameters and two compaction endpoint parameters were derived. The original median particle diameter had generally a strong effect on the tablet tensile strength and hence the tabletability and compactibility profiles. The experimental profiles were well approximated by the models used, and the compaction parameters were regarded as representative of the experimental profiles. The compaction endpoint parameters increased with decreased particle size and were controlled by the same structural feature as the compacts. The tabletability rate parameter also increased with decreased particle size and correlated well with the tabletability endpoint parameter. The compactibility rate parameter tended to increase with decreased particle size, but the effect was limited; moreover, no general correlation was obtained with the compactibility endpoint parameter. It is concluded that compactibility and tabletability parameters collectively provide a concentrated description of the compaction properties of a powder.