Investigation of the pellet-distribution in single tablets via image analysis.

The influence of five different microcrystalline cellulose filler-binders on the pellet-distribution in tablets was investigated under production-scale conditions. Coloured coated pellets were tableted on an instrumented high speed rotary tablet press at four machine speed levels. The pellet-distribution on the upper and the lower tablet surfaces was detected via image analysis and correlated with the disintegration time and the crushing strength of the tablets. Filler-binders with a large surface area and a fibrous texture, like Avicel PH 101, enable the production of disintegrating tablets with an approximately homogeneous pellet-distribution within a large range of machine speeds, while pellet-containing tablets prepared with coarse microcrystalline cellulose granules showed an inhomogeneous pellet-distribution, depending on machine speed.