Abstract

SOLID STATE SINTERING: A NOVEL TECHNIQUE FOR CONTROLLED RELEASE

Anuradha G. More* and Dr. Praveen D. Chaudhari

Abstract

Sintering is defined as the bonding of adjacent particle surfaces in a mass of powder or in a compact by application of heat. This concept in pharmaceutical science is relatively recent, but research interests relating to this process have been growing. The principal driving force for sintering is reduction of total free energy in the system as a result of this bonding of particles, void-space shrinkage, and the consequent decrease in total surface area of the compact. Historically, sintering is process employed to fabricate parts from metals, ceramics and glass. In the pharmaceutical sciences, sintering has been described as the consolidated pharmaceutical powders at elevated temperatures, solid- bond formation during tablet compression. However, a better understanding of theoretical and technical aspects of sintering process may allow the identification of its specific needs for pharmaceutical manufacturing such as a fabrication of controlled release polymeric matrix system.

Keywords: Sintering, Controlled release, Novel technique, Solid state sintering, Effect of temperature.