Finite element modelling for Pharmaceutical tablet compaction: An overview

Powder compaction is an easy and cheap process to produce pharmaceutical tablets. However, a successful tableting requires a sound knowledge of the powder behaviour during the compaction as many defects such as sticking,... [ view full abstract ]

Powder compaction is an easy and cheap process to produce pharmaceutical tablets. However, a successful tableting requires a sound knowledge of the powder behaviour during the compaction as many defects such as sticking, picking, chipping, capping and lamination, may occur during the process.
Finite element modelling is a very effective tool to enhance the understanding of the powder behaviour during the compaction process.
Numerical simulations give detailed information about many essential parameters that may be involved in the tablet failure such as density, strain and stresses distributions.
Moreover, the FE simulations of the tableting process can also provide vital information about the effects of tools shape, lubrication and compaction speed. This information is very important for improving the final product and the process optimisation.
In order to establish a finite element model, an appropriate constitutive material model, which represents the mechanical behaviour of the powder during the compaction, is required.
The proposed material model needs to be calibrated via experimental techniques.
This paper reviews the current research in the area of finite element modelling of pharmaceutical tableting.