Changes in Volume and Compression Energy upon Compression of Calcium Silicate Tablets

Abstract The compression mechanism of calcium silicate (Florite®RE, FLR)was evaluated by determining the physicochemical properties such as compression energy, volume reduction percentage during the compression process, and elastic recovery of FLR tablets. The results obtained were compared with those of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate (ADCP), cornstarch (CS), and lactose (LAC). FLR is found to have higher plasticity in the compression process and lower elastic recovery in a wide range of tablet hardnesses compared with the other 4 excipients. The results also indicate that a large part of compression energy was consumed for plastic deformation and fragmentation of particles. These characteristics are attributable to FLR's porous structure and are responsible for FLR tablets' high hardness, an important propen'y in tablet formulation. As a consequence, it was suggested that FLR would be a useful excipient for the formation of tablets in the pharmaceutical industry.