Multi components of tablets ( Lubricant )
Definition:
They are lubricants or oils used in the manufacture of medicine tablets. They are used in the pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing processes by adding them to the tablets and to the tablet making machine to prevent friction or adhesion of the medicine tablet to the machine.
What are the three roles played by lubricants?
1- True Lubricant Role:
It plays the role of a true lubricant in reducing friction between sliding surfaces. Lubricants are usually added at the interface of the tablet wall. This occurs during the forming and ejection process of the tablet.
2- Anti-adhesion Role:
The role of such materials is to prevent the tablet from adhering to the device it is manufactured for, such as tablet punches (which is a piece of a device in which tablets are made consisting of two parts, upper punches and lower punches, and between the two parts there is a piece in which tablets are pressed called die).
3- Glidant Role:
It improves flow by modifying the interaction between particles.
Lubricants in general and the typical level for each:
1- Colloidal Silicas (1-5%)
2- Talc (1-5%)
3- Stearic Acid (1-5%)
4- Metallic stearates (0.5-1%)
Lubricants in general used in the three roles of lubricating oils:
1- True Lubricant activity:
- metallic stearates
- stearic Acid
2- Anti- adherent activity:
- Metallic stearate
- Stearic Acid
- Talc
- Colloidal Silicas
3- Glidant activity:
- Colloidal Silicas
- Talc
Some notes on the lubricant system:
1- The lubricant is added in the last step in the manufacture of the tablets after mixing all the ingredients and the lubricant is mixed with the other ingredients for 2-5 minutes.
2- Water-soluble lubricants are not as effective as hydrophobic lubricants.
3- Often two substances are used in the formulation of the tablets to increase the overall lubricating effect in all three areas .