APPLICATION OF PERCOLATION THEORY AND FRACTAL GEOMETRY TO TABLET COMPACTION

Percolation theory 1 and fractal geometry 2 represent novel powerful c oncepts which cover a wide range of applications in pharmaceutical tec hnology 3. Both concepts provide new insights into the physics of tabl et compaction and the properties of compacts 4-11. The paper reviews a nd summarizes the most recent findings in the application of percolati on theory and fractal geometry to tablet compaction which include four sections i.e. 1) short introduction to percolation theory and fractal geometry, 2) the formation of a tablet 4,7,10, 3) tablet properties s uch as deformation hardness, tensile strength 10 and 4) drug dissoluti on from a matrix type controlled release system 3,9,11.