Flowability of surface modified pharmaceutical granules: A comparative experimental and numerical study

Abstract

Flowability – as measured by hopper discharge rate, angle of repose and Carr's index (CI) – of surface modified microcrystalline cellulose granules was investigated experimentally. Three-dimensional simulations of the granule flow were performed, using the discrete element method (DEM), including either sliding and rolling friction or sliding friction and cohesion in the model. Granule surface modification with polymer coating and lubrication was found to have a significant effect on the sliding friction coefficient. This effect was also reflected in the ensuing flow behaviour, as quantified by the experimental discharge rate and angle of repose, whereas the results for the CI were inconclusive. The numerical results demonstrated that granular flow was qualitatively different for non-cohesive and cohesive granules, occurring in the form of individual particles for the former and in larger clusters for the latter. Rolling friction and cohesion nevertheless affected the simulated discharge rate in a similar manner, producing results comparable to those observed experimentally and calculated with the Beverloo equation. The numerical results for the cohesive granules demonstrated that cohesion alone was sufficient to produce stable heaps. However, the agreement with experimental data was satisfactory only for the non-cohesive granules, demonstrating the importance of rolling friction.