INTRODUCTION

There are a variety of presentations for tablets as delivery systems for pharmaceutical agents, such as rapidly disintegrating, slowly disintegrating, eroding, and chewable. The concepts of this chapter are also applicable to lozenges. Each of these presentations places a certain demand on the bonding, structure, and integrity of the compressed matrix. Tablets must be able to withstand the rigors of handling and transportation experienced in the manufacturing plant, in the drug distribution system, and in the field at the hands of the end users (patients/consumers). Manufacturing processes such as coating, packaging, and printing can involve considerable stresses, which the tablets must be able to withstand. For these reasons, several tests are available to assess the strength of the compact as well as the response to contact with water and other liquids. These tests include Disintegration 〈701〉, Dissolution 〈711〉, Tablet Friability 〈1216〉, and Tablet Breaking Force, the subject of this chapter. The mechanical strength of tablets is of considerable importance and is routinely measured. Tablet strength serves both as a criterion by which to guide product development and as a quality control specification. An acceptable value for the strength of the compact must consider the intended use as well as the mechanism of release of the active ingredient(s) from the dosage form.