Equipment Description and Process Parameters

During the first step, powders are dry mixed to achieve a uniform dispersion prior to wet granulation. It is generally carried out in the same mixer used for the granulation  

The change from steady state to forced flow is caused by the movement of fluid under pressure. Extrusion in a ram extruder is continuous, and this phenomenon is 

The third step is the extrusion step which forms the wet mass into rod-shaped particles. The wet mass is forced through dies and shaped into small cylindrical particles having a uniform diameter. The extrudate particles break at similar lengths under 

As with dome type extruders the die is a stamped screen. Due to the shorter die lengths and the increase number of holes or dies, dome and radial extruders have the advantage of higher throughput as compared to the axial type. 

Steady state was possible with the MCC and MCC lactose samples but not with lactose alone. As can be seen with the MCC samples, the duration of the compression stage was water level dependent with no effect seen on the steady state stage. Additional studies indicated the effect of ram speed (extrusion speed) and die LjR ratio. An increase in ram speed increased duration of the steady-state stage with no effect on the compression stage. The LjR ratio had no effect on either compression or steady state. Wet mass composition, therefore, influenced the ability to achieve steady state while the water level and ram speed influenced duration. Higher water levels decreased the force to produce steady-state flow but increased 

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