Effect of Moisture Content of Exicipient (Microcrystalline Cellulose)

HiCelTM Microcrystalline Cellulose is a stable hygroscopic material which is widely used in Direct Compression Tabletting. The Plasticity of MCC is one of the main reasons for it's exceptional binding properties. The hygroscopicity of MCC is attributable to the abundant hyrodxyl groups on cellulose chains. The sorption of moisture results in water molecules being tightly bound to the amorphous region of MCC which are more hydrophilic than the crystalline region of MCC.This moisture reaches an equilibrium in the range of 4 to 5% and this is the range when the tablet hardness of the tablets are the best.