How to measure disintegration
Disintegration: definition and importance
Disintegration refers to the process by which a material breaks down into components, fragments, or particles, often as a result of decay, dissolution, or crumbling. This phenomenon is typically accompanied by a reduction in volume or height and is an important characteristic for products such as bath bombs, fast-disintegrating tablets, whipped creams, foams, and mousses.
A Texture Analyser can track disintegration by monitoring changes in a product’s height or volume over time, allowing manufacturers to calculate the rate of decay and determine the point of no further change.
Further example applications of disintegration testing
Disintegration testing using a Texture Analyser is essential in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries to ensure that products disintegrate as intended. Below are key applications:
- Pharmaceutical tablet disintegration: Measuring the time it takes for pharmaceutical tablets to break down or fully disintegrate by immersing in water.
- Capsule disintegration testing: Assessing the disintegration of gelatine capsules, particularly for immediate-release formulations by placing a in a liquid medium and measuring the time for the shell to break apart.
- Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) evaluation: Testing ODTs, which are designed to dissolve rapidly in the mouth without water by placing an ODT in a simulated oral cavity to measure disintegration time.
- Suppository disintegration testing: Evaluating the breakdown of suppositories used for rectal or vaginal administration by immersing in a liquid and recording the time to disintegrate into smaller particles.
- Bath bomb disintegration: Testing effervescent tablets/bombs that dissolve quickly when placed in water by submerging in water and recording the disintegration time as it releases gas bubbles.
In these examples, a Texture Analyser provides precise measurements of disintegration time, ensuring product quality and compliance with industry standards, especially in pharmaceutical applications.
Typical probe/attachment used for measurement
In a typical disintegration test, a cylinder probe with specially grooved underside (to which the sample is attached) can be used to monitor the change in height of a product over time as it disintegrates in a liquid medium. Standard cylinder probes can also be used to track change in distance as a sample disintegrates.
Typical graph
How to interpret the Texture Analyser graph
Typical curve indicating key analysis points of a disintegration test
When measuring disintegration, a distance vs time graph is typically characterised by the gradual or sudden loss of structural resistance as the material is subjected to constant force over time. The key is observing how the distance changes as the material begins to break down. From the graph you can observe/obtain the following:
- Onset of disintegration
- Initial swelling distance (if present)
- Initial disintegration rate
- Secondary disintegration rate
A full explanation of this curve and its analysis can be accessed within Exponent Connect software. Existing Exponent users can upgrade to Exponent Connect specification.
Below is a video example of how we can help you understand curve analysis for an example property.
Key factors affecting disintegration measurement
- Temperature: The temperature of the disintegration medium can influence the rate of disintegration.
- Medium composition: The type of liquid used (e.g., water, simulated gastric fluid) affects disintegration behaviour.
- Applied force: The constant load applied by the probe during testing affects the disintegration process.
- Probe speed: In constant velocity tests, the rate at which the probe moves can influence the measured disintegration time
- Sample size and shape: Consistency in tablet dimensions is crucial for accurate and reproducible disintegration measurements.
- Storage conditions: How the sample is stored prior to testing can affect its initial properties and subsequent disintegration.
Optimising disintegration measurement and analysis: The Stable Micro Systems advantage
The Stable Micro Systems Texture Analyser excels in optimising disintegration measurements through its comprehensive approach and specialised test features. Equipped with dedicated tools like the Tablet Disintegration Rig and Compression Platens, it precisely monitors changes in sample height over time while maintaining a chosen force.
The Texture Analyzer's high-speed data capture of force, distance, and time provides a detailed picture of the disintegration process, measuring properties such as onset of disintegration, initial swelling distance, and disintegration rates. Its versatility allows for testing a wide range of products, from pharmaceuticals to food items.
Exponent Connect software's advanced graphical interpretation capabilities, coupled with novel measurement techniques, enable researchers to identify absolute endpoints for disintegration. This combination of specialised equipment, precise measurements, and flexible application makes it the ideal choice for industries seeking to refine product formulations and maintain quality standards in disintegration testing.
Dedicated setup for accurate quantification of tablet disintegration.
Detailed force-time-distance profiles.
Ability to additionally measure sound using an Acoustic Envelope Detector.
Adjust settings to match specific product requirements or simulate real-world usage conditions.
If you need help with your disintegration measurement, we offer unrivalled support.
Be guided through the steps to successful testing and analysis of disintegration.
