{"id":7682,"date":"2025-08-29T00:53:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T21:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/?p=7682"},"modified":"2025-12-09T00:56:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T21:26:04","slug":"tablet-coating-and-its-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/tablet-coating-and-its-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Tablet coating and its problems"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A large number of dosage forms are coated. This coating is applied to the outer surface or to the contents inside gelatin capsules.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The following objectives are achieved by the coating:<\/span><\/p>\n

Protecting tablets and capsule contents from stomach acid<\/span><\/p>\n

Protecting the stomach from drugs that damage the stomach wall, such as coated aspirin<\/span><\/p>\n

Creating a slow-release drug<\/span><\/p>\n

Masking the smell and taste of medicine<\/span><\/p>\n

Helps maintain tablet shape<\/span><\/p>\n

Ideally, the tablet material should be released gradually, making the drug available to the digestive tract. The tablet coating can be specially formulated to dissolve the drug at a specific rate, allowing it to be absorbed after digestion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tablet coating process and its control<\/span><\/p>\n

The tablet coating process is carried out in a pressure-controlled, mesh drum. Angled blades are installed inside it to mix the tablets. The tablets are lifted by the blades and directed towards the center. The surface of the tablets is covered with the coating solution.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The solution sprayed on the tablet surfaces is dried by the hot air entering the machine. The air flow is regulated in terms of volume and temperature so that the drying is done in a controlled manner and at the same time the pressure inside the machine is negative compared to the room to create a separate and isolated condition for the preparation operation of the tablet coating machine.<\/span><\/p>\n

A tablet coating machine usually consists of a spray nozzle, a coating chamber, a non-homogeneous coating solution tank, a peristaltic pump, a fan, filters, and connecting pipes. The tablet coating process usually includes the following phases:<\/span><\/p>\n

1- Select the instructions for the desired batch<\/span><\/p>\n

2- Weighing materials-loading\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3- Warm up\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4- Spraying\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5- Cooling\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6- Emptying the product<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the problems encountered in the tablet coating process and ways to solve them:<\/span><\/p>\n

A large number of problems can arise during tablet coating operations, some of which we will describe and possible methods for solving.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tablet-To-Tablet Color Variation<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Using too little veneer material\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Increase the amount of coating<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Insufficient mixing of tablets during tablet coating<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:<\/span>\u00a0Increase Pan\u00a0<\/span>speed\u00a0<\/span>or upgrade the baffle<\/span>\u00a0system\u00a0<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Low opaqueness of the tablet coating material<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Reformulation of the tablet coating to increase the opaqueness using an opaquer and using a pre\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0–\u00a0coating\u00a0<\/span>system for\u00a0<\/span>colored\u00a0\u00a0tablets\u00a0.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>The solid portion of the coating solution is too high.<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Reduce its amount in the coating solution<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Insufficient number of nozzles on the device<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Increase the number of nozzles\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Improper spray distribution pattern on tablets<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Ensure the correct location of the nozzles<\/span><\/p>\n

Pan\u00a0speed\u00a0<\/span>is low\/Increase<\/span>\u00a0Pan speed<\/span><\/p>\n

Tablets sticking together (<\/span>\u00a0twinning\u00a0<\/span>)<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>The intensity and amount of spray is too high.<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Reduce the speed of the spray or increase the powderiness of the spray.<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:<\/span>\u00a0Pan\u00a0<\/span>speed\u00a0<\/span>is too slow<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Increase<\/span>\u00a0Pan Speed<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Improper tablet shape<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Choosing the right shape for the pills that reduces the chance of twinning (reducing the amount of contact surface)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Coating suspension solution is sticky\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Change the formulation of the coating suspension\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Nozzles are too close to the tablet bed<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Increase the distance between the nozzles and the tablet.<\/span><\/p>\n

CRACKINGCracking<\/span><\/p>\n

The tablet core has a different coefficient of thermal expansion after coating. Avoid mineral fillers-calcium carbonate-sulfate as much as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Low amount of forming material\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Change the tablet coating formulation<\/span><\/p>\n

peeling<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Low adhesion and strength of the coating solution<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Change the formulation of the tablet surface coating, it has low adhesion (select a formulation to increase adhesion)<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Too much lubricant in the formulation<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Use a supplement with lubricating properties (such as Starch 1500\u00a0<\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n

ORANGE PEEL ROUGHWESS<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>The viscosity of the coating solution is too high.<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Reduce solids, reduce coating viscosity<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>The tablet coating liquid does not powder well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Increase the pressure of powdering the tablet coating solution in tablet sprays<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Insufficient amount of material in the veneer adhesive<\/span>
\nSolution:\u00a0<\/span>Select a formulation with appropriate adhesive properties<\/span><\/div>\n
Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Product surface characteristics\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Solution\u00a0<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>Modify the tablet core formulation and use<\/span>\u00a0hydrophilic materials<\/span><\/div>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Inappropriate product logo design<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Change the logo design<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Insufficient amount<\/span>\u00a0of plasticiser in the coating<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Reduce coating spray speed \u2013 increase drying rate<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0IndentationPicking\/Sticking<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>The spray rate of the coating solution is too high.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Reduce the amount and speed of coating solution spray.<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Pan speed is too slow<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Increase Pan Speed<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Insufficient powder pressure of the coating solution<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Increase the pressure to powder the tablet coating solution<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Improper distribution of coating solution<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Choose the right formulation to increase adhesion.<\/span><\/p>\n

LOGO INFILLING<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>Inappropriate logo design<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span>Choosing the right design<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem:\u00a0<\/span>LOGO is filled with coating material<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution 1:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Reduce the drying speed by nozzles\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>
\nSolution 2:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0By increasing the spray rate of the nozzles and reducing the inlet air temperature and reducing the distance between the nozzles on the tablet surface<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A large number of dosage forms are coated. This coating is applied to the outer surface or to the contents inside gelatin capsules. The following objectives are achieved by the coating: Protecting tablets and capsule contents from stomach acid Protecting the stomach from drugs that damage the stomach wall, such as coated aspirin Creating a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pharmaindustry-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7682"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7683,"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7682\/revisions\/7683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afachemi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}