Delmendo, Christine A.

2D-PH[

Tablet Defects

Definition
Occurs in low melting point substances and moist. It

1. STICKING

2. PICKING

3. MOTTLING

Illustration

Causes
Excessive moisture in the granules

Remedy
Proper drying of the granules

produces rough and chipping surface tablets.

Selection of Binding agent to solve sticking; ideal

Develops material on both punches; lack of drying

selection of lubricant

Adherence of the tablet material from the surface of

Because of engraving or embossing or

Increase lettering and tablet size by reformulation

a tablet by a punch

debossing on the punch tips like small

Additional binder to increase cohesiveness of

enclosed areas in the letters like A, B, D,

granules

O, Q etc

Avoid wet granules.

Unequal distribution of colour on the tablet surface

Variation in the colours of ingredients (drug

By using bright coloring agent that will mask all the

with light and dark areas standing out in an otherwise

and other additives)

color variations

uniform coloured surface

Uneven distribution of colored adhesive gel

of the ingredients

solutions resulting in precipitation

By changing the solvent system or binder system

Improper storage conditions.

Grinding to small particle size

4. CHIPPING

Breaking of tablet edges; tablet leaves the press or

during subsequent handling and coating operations.

Sticking on punch faces

Too dry granules; too much binding

Dry the granules properly or increase lubrication.

Moisten the granules to plasticize. Add hygroscopic
substances. Optimize binding, or use dry binders.

5. CRACKING

Small, fine cracks observed on the upper and lower

central surface of tablets, or very rarely on the
sidewall

Tablet expands on ejection due to air

entrapment
Deep concavities cause cracking while
removing tablets

Use tapered die.

Use special take-off

It is partial or complete separation of the top or

bottom of tablet due air-entrapment in the granular
material.

Too dry or very low moisture content (leading

to loss of proper binding action).
Not thoroughly dried granules.
Insufficient or improper lubricant or binder.
Granular mass too cold.

Remove some or all fines through 100 to 200 mesh

screen.
Moisten the granules suitably. Add hygroscopic
substance e.g.: sorbitol, methyl- cellulose or PEG4000.
Dry the granules properly.
Increase the amount of lubricant or change the type of
lubricant or binder.

7. LAMINATION

Separation of tablet into two or more layers due to

air-entrapment in the granular material.

Oily or waxy materials in granules.

Too much of hydrophobic lubricant.
Magnesium-stearate.

Modify mixing process. Add adsorbent or absorbent.

Use a less amount of lubricant or change the type of
lubricant.

8. BINDING

These problems are due to more amount of binder

in the granules or wet granules.

Poorly finished dies.

Rough dies due to abrasion, corrosion.
Undersized dies. Too little clearance.
Too much pressure in the tablet press.

Polish the dies properly.

Investigate other steels or other materials or modify
granulation. Increase clearance.
Reduce pressure or Modify granulation

9. DOUBLE
IMPRESSION

It is due to free rotation of the punches, which have

some engraving on the punch faces.

Free rotation of either upper punch or lower

punch during ejection of a tablet.

Use keying in tooling, i.e. inset a key alongside of the

punch, so that it fits the punch and prevents punch
rotation.

10. ORANGE
PEEL/ROUGHNESS

It is surface defect resulting in the film being rough

and nonglossy. Appearance is similar to that of an
orange

Rapid Drying
High solution viscosity

Use mild drying conditions.

Use additional solvents to decrease viscosity of
solution.

6. CAPPING

Reference: http://jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/viewFile/722/425