Immediate release film, seal, sugar film
Hypromellose
Also written as HPMC, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.
What it is
HPMC is the workhorse of immediate release film coating. It forms a clear, tough film at low build-up, takes pigment well and does not delay release, which is why it underpins both the moisture barrier range and the sugar film coat.
What it does in the film
HPMC forms a clear, tough, water soluble film at low build-up. It does not delay release, so whatever the core does uncoated it does coated. It also takes pigment well, which is why colour and opacity work is done on an HPMC base.
When to choose it
Any immediate release film coat, and as the carrier under a sugar film finish. If the requirement is covering, protecting and colouring without touching the release profile, this is the polymer.
How it runs on the coater
The film coating band. Aqueous runs at 35 to 40 degrees at the bed against a 75 to 80 degree inlet, non-aqueous cooler at 30 to 35 against 60 to 65.
- Role
- Immediate release film, seal, sugar film
- Also called
- HPMC, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
- Grades on this base
- 1