Freeman Technology the Influence of Roller Compactor Process Parameters on Granule Properties

Processing powder blends can present a number of challenges: component powders may be poorly flowing in the process, the blends may be susceptible to segregation, or the formation of agglomerates may affect homogeneity. Granulation is used in a range of industries and applications to combine multiple components of a blend into a more free-flowing, homogeneous intermediate product for downstream processing. It is frequently carried out as a wet process, but the resultant wet mass has to be dried and milled to generate a processable product. This can be time consuming and expensive, and in some cases not possible due to chemical and/or thermal degradation of the active ingredient. Dry granulation has significant benefits in terms of both processing and cost reduction, and can be used with sensitive materials. However, there is little indication of which process parameters produce optimal granulate quality in order to achieve interruption free processing and high quality products. Most equipment suppliers and product manufacturers therefore rely on historical and adhoc trial information to identify suitable parameters.