TABLETING
maintenance and management process, tablet tooling can help to boost production, prevent the rejection of tablets, reduce formulation waste, minimise press damage, avoid press downtime and increase profi tability.
HOW DOES CORROSION FORM? Corrosion of tooling is one of the biggest production problems that can occur in tableting due to poorly maintained tablet tooling and corrosive formulations that may contain acids, salts or Chlorine for example. Corrosion will be identifi ed by the appearance of discolouration, etching or red rust on the punch and is most often found on the punch tip face, as this is the section of punch that is in contact with the formulation for the longest period of time. Acidic substances found in formulations
are often the main cause of the corrosion. It can also occur when iron particles in the steel tooling are exposed to oxygen and moisture in the form of humidity or vapour. When the steel is exposed to water, the iron particles are lost to the water’s acidic electrolytes. T is means they oxidise the iron particles forming areas of corrosion on the punches and dies. Excess humidity in the compression
Coatings can have a huge impact in stopping corrosion
CCONFRONTING
effi ciently to meet the growing demand while overcoming challenging production issues that arise daily when producing solid dose forms. One area that is hugely infl uential to
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n today’s fast-paced pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, manufacturers face the challenge of producing tablets quickly and
room, tool storage area or places where the formulation is stored before use, can have a signifi cant impact on corrosion developing on the tooling. It is, therefore, extremely important to regulate the temperature and humidity and minimise any moisture to prevent corrosion of the punches and dies.
Jack Tillotson discusses stopping the corrosive eff ects of poorly maintained tablet tooling
ORROSION
the success or failure of mass-produced tablets is the condition of the tooling. T e availability and condition of punches and dies are important for uninterrupted production. If tooling is not in optimum condition, problems such as sticking, contamination issues or corrosion are commonplace. By implementing a planned professional
TYPES OF CORROSION Several types of corrosion can form on tooling. One of the most destructive is ‘pitting’. T is is typically localised and can penetrate much deeper into the material’s surface than the visible hole on the exterior would indicate. T is results in weakening the integrity and strength of the tooling and can be caused by non- uniformities in the steel structure. T e most common type of corrosion
is ‘uniform’. As the word suggests, it evenly attacks across the surface of the material. It is, however, the most benign corrosion aff ecting the mirror fi nish surface of the punch tip face. However, this type of corrosion can turn into pitting corrosion if not addressed in a timely manner. It typically occurs over reasonably large areas of the surface, reducing the strength of the tooling. Just like pitting,
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