Role of polymers in tableting

The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the role polymers have in manufacturing tablets. Basic polymer structural attributes like molecular weight, side chain functional groups, and the extent of substitution will be presented, with a focus on correlating how these intrinsic polymer properties define the raw material behavior during processing—plastic-elasticity, compactibility, crystalline state, brittle-ductile nature, particle size distribution, material mechanical strength, etc. Polymers of natural, semisynthetic, and synthetic origin routinely utilized in tablet manufacturing will be presented and classified based on their main function(s)—fillers, binders, disintegrants, matrix formers, or lubricants. Each of these functionalities will be described in detail to elucidate which polymer properties are required for a specific function. The basic physics of tablet compression will be presented and common compendia as well as noncompendial tablet quality assurance characterization methods will be discussed. In silico computational methods and compaction, simulators are of great relevance today, as modeling tableting and compaction processes can reduce trial-and-error and save valuable financial, time, and other resources.