Use of 3-D modelling in early development phase of pectin tablets

This study examines the contribution of a 3-D model in an early development of pectin tablets. The aim of this work was to extract as much information of the compression behavior from as few tablets as possible. Pectins with various degrees of methoxylation (DM) were studied (4%-72%). The compressibility was evaluated using classic “in-die” Heckel and Kawakita analyses in addition to the 3-D modeling. For validation purposes well-known reference materials were included. 3-D modeling applied to data of single tablets yielded some information on their compressibility. When several tablets with different maximum relative densities (rel, max) were included, no additional information was obtained through classic evaluation. However, the 3-D model provided additional information through the shape of the 3-D parameter plot. Pectins with a DM $ 25% consolidated predominantly by elastic deformation similarly to the 3-D parameter plot of pregelatinized starch (PGS). The 3-D analysis also suggests some degree of fragmentation and, for some of the low-methoxylated pectins (DM # 10%), viscoelastic deformation. This study showed that by applying 3-D modeling it is possible to differentiate between elastic and viscoelastic materials for tablets with different  rel, max values.