Particle Morphology of Amorphous Aluminum Hydroxycarbonate and Its Effect on Tablet Production

Abstract

The particle morphology of amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate was studied by disaggregation induced by phosphate adsorption and direct observation by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The primary particles are sheet-like and have equivalent diameters of 55A or less. The primary particles are believed to correspond to planar polymers comprised of six-membered rings of aluminum ions joined by double hydroxide bridges. Secondary particles form by attractive interaction of primary particles. The size of the primary particles affects the porosity of the secondary particles. The granulating and tableting properties of two spray dried amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonates were shown to be related to the size of the primary particles and the porosity of the secondary particles.