The relationship among tensile strength, Young's modulus, and indentation hardness of pharmaceutical compacts

• Published in: Powder technology Vol. 331; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Sun, Wei-Jhe, Kothari, Sanjeev, Sun, Changquan Calvin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.05.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Binary mixtures; Calcium; Calcium phosphates; Cellulose; Cellulosic resins; Compaction; Compacts; Compression; Crystalline cellulose; Dibasic calcium phosphate; Ductility; Hardness; Indentation; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Mechanical property; Microcrystalline cellulose; Modulus of elasticity; Pharmaceuticals; Physics; Powder; Tensile strength; Young's modulus; Young's modulus; Hardness; Microcrystalline cellulose; Dibasic calcium phosphate; Mechanical property; Tensile strength
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2018.02.051

Mechanical properties of pharmaceutical materials, e.g., Young's modulus (E), indentation hardness (H), and tensile strength (σt), play an important role in powder compaction process. However, few studies investigated the relationship among these parameters and consequence for tablet compression. Using microcrystalline cellulose, a plastic material, and dibasic calcium phosphate anhydrate, a brittle material, as well as their binary mixtures, we systematically examined the relationship among the three properties. It was found that Young's modulus was proportional to indentation hardness (H/E≈0.036) regardless of the composition and compaction pressure. For a given material, tensile strength was also proportional to E and H but the relationship varied with materials. Higher E and H were required to attain the same σt for a more brittle material. [Display omitted] •A systematical investigation of the correlation among Young's modulus, hardness, and tensile strength of compacts•Materials spanning a wide range of mechanical properties were investigated.•Young's modulus is proportional to hardness regardless of the material.•More brittle materials require higher Young's modulus and hardness to attain the same tensile strength.