Effect of moisture content on compression properties of two dextrose-based directly compressible diluents.

Moisture sorption characteristics and the effect of moisture content on the compression properties of two dextrose-based directly compressible diluents, namely, Emdex (diluent A) and Sweetrex (diluent B) were studied. Both diluents sorbed moisture rapidly at relative humidities greater than 60%. For both the diluents, pressures required to compress tablets to the same relative density decreased with increasing moisture content. Yield pressures calculated from linear Heckel plots obtained from the compression data of both diluents reflected decreasing values with increasing moisture content. Three-way surface profile graphs of moisture content versus tablet parameters such as crushing force, relative density, and compression pressure give a unique overall picture of the compression properties of a diluent and offer the tablet formulator a useful tool for diluent comparison.