THE FLOW PROPERTIES OF POWDERS AND GRANULES

The flow properties of powders and granules are of critical importance in the production of
pharmaceutical dosage forms.
It is recommended that pharmaceutical powders and granules be free flowing (i.e. of good,
rapid and regular flowability) for the following reasons:
1. Uniform feed from storage containers (as machine hoppers) into the tablet dies and
capsule dosators, allowing uniform particle filling that maintains weight uniformity.
2. Uneven Powder flow can result in excess entrapped air within powder which may cause
capping or lamination of tablets.
3. Uneven powder flow can result from the presence of excess fines that are suggested to
increase particle - die wall friction and increase dust contamination risks during powder
transfer and processing.

Factors affecting powder Flowability

1. Particle size.

2. Moisture content. 3. Particle shape.

(texture).

4. Surface roughness

5.Particle density.

6. Surface forces, e.g. Hydrophobicity or electrostatic Charges.

** To Predict the Flowability of a powder quantitatively the following indirect Parameters
are to be measured :
1. Bulk density

2. Flow Rate.

3. Angle of repose.

I- Determination of the Bulk density (gm/cm3):

It is defined as the mass of a powder divided by the bulk volume.
It depends on: particle size distribution, particle shape and the tendency of particles to
adhere together.
Procedure:
1. Gently introduce an accurately weighed amount (5g) of each powder into a 10 ml
graduated cylinder.
2. Record the volume (V0) of the powder and calculate "0 which is the initial bulk density
before tapping.
0 =

Wt. (g)
5
--------= ---------- g/cm3
Vol (cm3)
V0

3. Drop and tap the cylinder carefully onto a hard surface for 10 times from a height of 5
cm.
4. Record the volume (V10) of the powder and calculate 10 which is the loose bulk
density.
5. Continue dropping and tapping the cylinder until no further reduction in volume (Vf) is
noticed (usually 40 50 times) and calculate f which is the final bulk density.

6. Calculate the Hausners ratio:

Hausners ratio = loose bulk volume (V10)
final bulk volume (Vf)
Hausners ratio is related to inter-particle friction and so could be used to predict the
powder flow properties.

7. Calculate the percentage compressibility (Carr's Index):

% compressibility (Carr's index) = f 0 x 100
f
Interpretation of values:
Carr's index Hausners ratio Flow behaviour
< 10

1 1.11

Excellent

11 15

1.12 1.18

Good

16 25

1.19 1.34

Pass

26 31

1.35 1.45

Poor

> 32

> 1.46

Very poor

8. Repeat the experiment three times for each sample and record your results in the
following tables.
Sample 1:
Exp.
No.
1
2
3

V0

V10

Vf

10

Hausners Carrs
ratio
index

Mean
Sample 2:
Exp.

V0

V10

Vf

10

No.

Hausners Carrs
ratio
index

1
2
3
Mean

Comment:

II- Measurement of angle of repose:

Angle of repose is the maximum angle possible between the surface of the pile (heap) of
powder and the horizontal plane. It gives a measure of the frictional forces which oppose
the flow of a loose powder.
Tan = H = 2H
0.5D

Where, is the angle of repose,

H is the height of a heap of powder and
D is diameter the powder.
The rougher and more irregular surface granules, the higher will be the angle of repose.
Factors affecting the angle of repose:
Particle Size.

Particle shape.

Particle density.

Presence of moisture.

Techniques of measurement.
* Relationship between angle of repose () & powder flowability
Angle of repose ()

Flow behaviour

< 25

Excellent

26 - 30

Good

31 - 40

Pass

41 - 45

Poor

> 46

Very poor

Measurement of angle of repose using funnel and plate method

Procedure:
1. Fix a funnel to a stand vertically above the center of a piece of paper so that the distance
between the funnel tip and the paper is 5 cm.
2. Allow 5 g of each sample to slide on the funnel wall slowly with a fixed rate by gentle
tapping on the powder container so that the powder forms conical heap ( pile ) on the paper.
3. Measure the diameter "D" of the bed in two planes at right angles taking the mean value.
Also determine the bed height H" using a ruler.
4. Repeat the same steps for at least three times.
5. Record your data in the following table
Results:
Sample 1
Exp.

H (cm)

D (cm)

Tan

Angle of repose
()

N0.
1
2
3
Mean

Sample 2
Exp. N0.

H (cm)

D (cm)

Tan

Angle of
repose ()

1
2
3
Mean

Which sample shows the lowest angle of repose and why?

2.IMPROVEMENT OF POWDER FLOWABILITY

Flowability of powders could be improved by one or more of the following approaches:
I. Alteration of particle size and size distribution by removal of fines or by granulation.
II. Alteration of particle shape and texture by spray drying which produce spherical free
flowing granules.
III. Alteration of surface electrostatic forces by:
A) Reduction of frictional forces between particles.
B) Discharging the electrostatic charges in powder containers by

connection to the

earth.
IV. Drying of powders and storage under low humidity to minimize moisture.
V. Alteration of process condition by:
1. Using of force feeders i.e. by fitting vibrating baffles at the base of the feeding hopper.
2. Using of mechanically vibrated hoppers.
VI. Addition of flow activators (glidants) e.g., talc, magnesium stearate or silicon dioxide.
The use of glidants to improve powder flowability:
Glidants may act through different mechanisms to improve powder flowability, including:
1. Making the surface of the particles more smooth.
2. Reducing electrostatic charge adhesion and cohesion.
3. Reducing the moisture adsorbed on the particle surface.

Determination of the optimum glidant concentration

Procedure:

1. Determine the "Angle of Repose" for the provided sample powder, without the addition
of glidants, as mentioned previously.
2. Mix well the powder with the glidant (1 %, w/w) and re-measure the angle of repose.
3. Repeat the same experiment with the addition of (3 and 5%, w/w) of the glidant,
respectively.
4. Record your results in the following table:
Sample

Diameter Height
(cm)

no glidant

Mean
+ 1% glidant

Mean
+ 3% glidant

Mean
+ 5% glidant

Mean
Comment:

(cm)

Tan

Angle of repose
()