Some observations on the effect of lubrication on the crushing strength of tablets

Abstract

Abstract The effect of mean compaction pressure, base particle size, lubricant particle size, and lubricant concentration, on crushing strength of tablets has been determined for crystalline aspirin, hexamine, sucrose and sodium chloride, and simple granulations of sucrose and of hexamine. Magnesium stearate powder was used as a lubricant. The lubricant decreased the strength of all tablets, the reduction being greatest for the crystalline materials. Variation of lubricant particle size had no effect on strength, and the behaviour of the granulations was not predictable from the characteristics of the crystalline materials. The results are compared with those of other workers.