Tablet Manufacturing Defects w/ Images

Capping (Crown) or Lamination (Body)

What is Capping / Lamination?

Breakage of a tablet into two or multiple layers

Reasons for Capping / Lamination

- Material cannot withstand compression and decompression

- Insufficient Binder

- Air entrapment

Solutions for Capping / Lamination

- Add more binder

-Adjust compression force

- Adjust moisture content to increase cohesivity

Chipping

What is Chipping?

Edges of the tablets break during the manufacture, packaging, handling or coating

Reasons for Chipping?

Low tablet hardness

Solutions for Chipping

- Adjust tablet hardness

- Use high amount of binders

Picking and Sticking

What does TABLET picking and sticking mean?

Tablet material adheres to the punches and dies instead of being ejected smoothly

What does COATING picking and sticking mean?

Coating material adheres to the coating machine surface leading to picking

What is the reason for TABLET picking and sticking?

- High moisture content

- Sticky powder / granules

What is the reason for COATING picking and sticking?

High moisture content of coating solution with insufficient drying

What is the solution for TABLET picking and sticking?

- Adjust moisture

- Add lubricant as they are hydrophobic

What is the solution for COATING picking and sticking?

- Adjust moisture (more drying)

Mottling

What TABLET mottling means?

Uneven distribution of colored ingredients of tablet

What does COATING mottling mean?

Uneven distribution of color or pigmentation on the coating

Reason for TABLET mottling?

Lack of uniform mixing

Solution for TABLET mottling?

- Geometric mixing

- Uniform blending

What does COATING mottling mean?

Uneven distribution of color or pigmentation on the coating

Reason for COATING mottling?

Non-uniform distribution of pigment on coating solution

Solution for COATING mottling?

Uniform blending

Orange Peel Effect

What does ORANGE PEEL EFFECT mean?

Roughness of tablet surface due to failure of spray droplets to atomize

Reason for ORANGE PEEL EFFECT?

- High rate of coating liquid deposition

- Insufficient drying before application of newer coating layer

Solution to ORANGE PEEL EFFECT?

Control rate of coating and drying

Bridging

What does BRIDGING mean?

Filling in of the score line, loss of monogram legibility

Reasons for BRIDGING?

- Deposition in the crevices of monograms and score lines

- Internal stress resulting in the breakage of adhesive bonds between the coatings

Solution for BRIDGING?

Use low viscosity coating solutions