Predicting Tablet Strength from the Wet Granulation Conditions via the Unified Compaction Curve

Tablets make up approximately one third of all drug dosage forms which makes tablet manufacture a common process in the pharmaceutical industry. The unified compaction curve [1] is a model developed initially to look at the impact of the roller compaction conditions on the tablet strength. The tensile strength of the tablets made from formulations containing at least 50% microcrystalline cellulose produced at roller compaction pressures were measured and the profiles were collapsed into a single master “unified compaction curve” (UCC). This allowed for the tablet strength to be predicted from the roller compaction condition and formulations and target the required tablet strength criterion set by standards or specifications [1].