Using the new attachment, pharmaceutical manufacturers can assess the mechanical properties of their products during handling and employment, ensuring that they are adequately robust.
Many pharmaceutical products, particularly plasters and bandages, are designed to be extremely thin, increasing comfort and ease of storage or use. While maintaining these characteristics, the products must also be strong enough to resist breakage when handled and applied by consumer or professional, and also during use.
The Film Support Rig is the newest addition to Stable Micro Systems' range of testing instrumentation, which can be used in conjunction with the company's TA.XTplus texture analyser to measure the burst strength and resilience.
Prior to performing the test, the sample is placed over a hole in a raised perspex platform. A top plate prevents the sample from slipping during testing. The test is then carried out as the arm of the TA.XTplus brings a 5mm stainless steel ball probe down into the aperture. The maximum force to rupture the sample is recorded and is referred to as burst strength.
The resilience and relaxation properties of the product can also be measured. Depressing the film surface to a chosen distance before retracting the ball probe can assess resilience..
The property is calculated using a ratio of the work of compression and work of withdrawal. Similarly, relaxation can be measured with the addition of a hold period within the test to allow the product's recovery to be evaluated. Both these properties broaden the application of the Film Support Rig.
Burst strength, resilience and relaxation are important factors in determining the mechanical properties of a product, allowing manufacturers to optimise product structure and formulation.