Follow
Lubricants are the materials used to reduce friction between surfaces. Lubricants are solids or liquid and widely used in engineering and manufacturing industries. These are made up of metals, oils or synthetic compounds.
In tablet manufacturing, lubricants are applied to the compression machines dies during compression. It creates a thin slippery layer between tablet and die that reduces friction and prevents sticking. Lubricants may also be added to the tablet surface that helps in easy removal of tablet from die and prevents them from sticking together.
Functions of lubricants
Lubricants have an important role in tablet manufacturing. Their main function is to prevent powder from sticking and maintain it in a free-flowing stage. This flowability of powder makes the manufacturing process more efficient. Additionally, the lubricant increases the strength of tablets by reducing the friction between the ingredients of tablets during compression.
The role of lubricants in tablet
As we have discussed the importance of lubricants in tablet manufacturing, they also help to control the flow of ingredients, prevent sticking, and reduce friction during tablet compression. Lubricants also help to improve product stability and its release properties. These are also added to other additives to get the desired drug release results.
For example, talc is commonly used as both lubricant and binder in some chewable tablets. This combination helps to minimize the friction and make the tablet smooth. Other additives that are used with the lubricants are fillers like micro crystalline cellulose (MCC), disintegrants like croscarmellose sodium (CCS) and wetting agents like sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS).
It is critical to choose a right lubricant and it depends on the specific requirements of the formulation. The key factors to choose the lubricant include viscosity, its compatibility with other components and toxicity level. These factors must always be considered when selecting a suitable lubricant for your dosage forms.
