1Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore-560054, India
2Professor and Head, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore-560054, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: dhrubojyotimukherjee.ps.ph@msruas.ac.in
Online published on 18 January, 2019.
The aim of the study was to develop an appropriate and discriminating method to determine the mechanical strength of film formulations by designing and fabricating a lab model mechanical strength test instrument.
Sample films using widely used hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers were prepared by solvent casting and solvent evaporation method, at three concentrations of 0 2%. Suitable plasticizers were chosen based on the properties of the polymers and the plasticizer concentration 50% w/w depending upon the polymer concentration.
The prepared films exhibited puncture strength range from 0.89±0.066 N/mm2 (B1) to 14.73±0.176 N/mm2 (B4). Films with HPMC K100 and sodium alginate were found to have a higher value for puncture strength and mechanical strength. The developed instrument is suitable for the determination of the tensile strength of various film formulations and can be used as an instructional experimental apparatus to assist students in their efforts to understand the basic mechanical properties of films and related formulations.
Hydrophilic films were more flexible with a higher value of tensile strength and % elongation at an increasing polymer and plasticizer concentration.
Tensile Strength, Film Formulation, Puncture Strength, Sodium Alginate
