Instrumentation of a Gravity Feed Extruder (2)

Difference in lactose and microcrystalline cellulose particle size did not influence extruder forces. The amount of water in the mixtures to be processed and the initial difference in solubility for some of the lactose types investigated influenced the extrusion forces dramatically. Extrusion forces recorded during processing of a mixture previously granulated in a high shear granulator were higher than when processed in a planetary mixture. Loss of water during high shear granulation is probably the main cause of this phenomenon.