Crystal habit modifications of ibuprofen and their physicomechanical characteristics

Ibuprofen was crystalized from methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and hexane a t similar conditions. Marked differences in crystal habit of the samples ob tained from these solvents were observed. The samples crystallized from met hanol and ethanol had a polyhedral crystal habit, while those from hexane w ere needlelike. Those from isopropanol were elongated crystals. X-ray powde r diffraction (XPD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies con firmed that these samples were structurally similar; therefore, polymorphic modifications were ruled out. The results showed that crystal habit modifi cation had a great influence on the mechanical properties (compressibility, flow rate, and bulk density) of ibuprofen crystals. Samples obtained from methanol and ethanol exhibited the highest bulk density and the best flow r ate, while those from hexane showed the lowest bulk density and the worst f low rate. The samples obtained from ethanol exhibited the best compression force/hardness profiles, and those obtained from hexane produced the softes t tablets.