Sintering Method in Pharmaceutical Sciences: An Overview

In the pharmaceutical science, sintering has been described as the mechanism for the strengthening of the mechanical properties of consolidated pharmaceutical powders at elevated temperatures, for solid-bond formation during tablet compression, and for thermal curing of polymer-latex film coatings. The concept of sintering was applied in the investigation of the effect of heating on the mechanical properties of pharmaceutical powders. The sintering process has been used for the fabrication of controlled-release matrix tablets and for the stabilization of the drug permeability of film coatings derived from various pharmaceutical lattices. The changes in the hardness and disintegration time of tablets stored at elevated temperatures were described as a result of sintering. The formation of solid bonds within powder bed during tablet compression was also studied in terms of sintering. The concept of sintering was applied in the investigation of the effect of heating on the mechanical properties of pharmaceutical powders.