Melt pelletization in a high shear mixer .9. Effects of binder particle size

Lactose monohydrate was melt pelletized in an 8-1 high shear mixer. The meltable binders were polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3000, 6000, and 8000 used as flakes, coarse powder, and fine powder, and PEG 10000 and 20000 used as flakes and coarse powder. The distribution of the binder in different granule size fractions was dependent on the binder particle size. The binder-particle size was reflected in the initial granule size at high binder viscosities. The fine powders gave rise to the lowest agglomerate growth rate, whereas a difference in growth rate between the flakes and the coarse powders was seen only at the highest viscosities.