Direct Compression

Tablets are the most common solid oral dosage form for many reasons including ease of manufacturing, convenience for the patient, accurate dose administration, and better stability than liquids and parenteral dosage forms. Direct compression is the simplest and most economical method for the manufacturing of tablets because it requires less processing steps than other techniques such as wet granulation and roller compaction. Most pharmaceutical active ingredients can not be compressed directly into tablets due to lack of flow, cohesion properties and lubrication. Therefore they must be blended with other directly compressible ingredients to manufacture satisfactory tablets. 

Since tablets can be considered a drug delivery system careful attention must be paid to their design, development and manufacturing in order to achieve the correct medical benefit. Colorcon^® offers several directly compressible excipients for developing immediate release and extended release pharmaceutical tablets. Our global network of technical experts are trained in all aspects of formulation development and scale-up. They are ready to assist our customers in any phase of tablet development.

Our Products

Starch 1500® Partially Pregelatinized Maize Starch is a unique product combining several properties in a single product. It performs the key functions of a binder, disintegrant, and flow aid in direct compression applications.

StarCap 1500® Co-Processed Starch Excipient is a unique, free-flowing mixture of globally accepted excipients with disintegration and compression functionality for use in capsules and tablets.

METHOCEL™ Premium Cellulose Ethers have good compaction properties and can be used in combination with other types of fillers in immediate and modified release direct compression applications. Direct compression of METHOCEL™ cellulose ethers is well documented for the formulation of hydrophilic matrix systems, providing a robust mechanism for the slow release of drugs from oral solid dosage forms.

ETHOCEL™ Premium Ethylcellulose Polymers can be used as a dry binder in immediate release direct compression applications. Additionally the fine particle “FP” sizes grades, specifically designed for direct compression applications, are utilized to control drug release from matrix systems through modification of diffusional path lengths and hydrophobic nature inside a tablet.

POLYOX™ Water Soluble Resins perform well as binders in economical direct compression systems. They often provide better flow and compaction properties than other binders. Their lubricity also assists tableting operations. This provides a system where a single excipient can provide both binding and rate-controlling properties.(1).

Nu-Tab® Compressible Sugar is a granular, free flowing tableting vehicle that has the sweet taste of sucrose. The Nu-Tab line of products are especially effective in masking harsh flavors of many active ingredients and can be used for most conventional tablets including chewable formulations.

Cal-Carb® Directly Compressible Calcium Carbonate is a free flowing calcium carbonate granulations that has excellent compression properties designed for use in conventional pharmaceutical tablets as well as calcium supplements.

(1) POLYOX™ Water-Soluble Resins NF in Pharmaceutical Applications, www.dow.com

METHOCEL™ / ETHOCEL™ / POLYOX™ are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company