Particulate Science and Technology, 32: 544553

Copyright # 2014 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

ISSN: 0272-6351 print=1548-0046 online
DOI: 10.1080/02726351.2014.930942

Effect of Particle Size on Direct Compaction of Urea

Fertilizer
INTAN SORAYA SHAMSUDIN,1 MOHD. SHAMSUL ANUAR,1 YUS ANIZA YUSOF,1
AHMAD HUSNI MOHD. HANIF,2 and SURAYA MOHD. TAHIR3
1
Department of Process and Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2
Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
3
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang,
Selangor, Malaysia

The effect of particle size on compaction properties and characteristics of urea tablets manufactured from available urea granules
(TG tablets) and ground urea powders (TP tablets) was investigated. The compaction properties, namely, plastic work, elastic
work, friction work, and maximum ejection pressure were analyzed from the force-displacement prole of the compaction process.
Five applied pressures ranging between 37.67 MPa and 188.35 MPa were used to compact the materials using a universal testing
machine. Characteristics of the tablets tested were mechanical strength and the release of ammonium ion through dissolution test.
The results demonstrated that TG tablets underwent high plastic work and elastic work but low friction work compared to the TP
tablets. TG tablets released lower amount of ammonium ion compared to the TP tablets at almost all applied pressures, except at
75.34 MPa. This study provides a valuable data for evaluating the behavior of urea in the form of granules and powders during the
compaction process as well as the suitability in choosing the form of raw material for the production of urea tablets.
Keywords: Ammonium ion release, compaction properties, tensile strength, universal testing machine, urea

1. Introduction particle size, for example, the materials apparently

Earlier studies by Adolfsson and Nystrom (1996), Shotton
and Ganderton (1961), Hersey et al., (1967), Riepma et al.
(1993), and Zuurman et al. (1994) have shown that decreas-
ing size of the particles of materials could positively affect
the mechanical strength of the tablets. These studies are sup-
ported by Alderborn (1996) and Mattsson (2000), who stated
that an increase in the tensile strength of a tablet depends on
the reduction of the particle size. Compaction of smaller par-
ticles tends to form stronger tablets due to the large surface
area of the particles for excellent interparticles bonding com-
pared to larger particles (Nikolakakis and Pilpel 1988; Wong
and Pilpel 1990; Sun and Grant 2001; Kaerger et al. 2004).
Although it is generally accepted that tablet strength
increases with decreasing particle size, the effect of the initial
particle size on the tablet strength depends on the mechanical
properties of the materials, as well as on the mechanism
where the materials undergo deformation (Alderborn and
Nystrom 1982; Vromans et al. 1985; Alderborn et al. 1988).
Previous studies by McKenna and McCafferty (1982) and
Patel et al. (2006) have reported that the tablet strength of
dicalcium phosphate and sucrose was not dependent on the
Address correspondence to: Intan Soraya Shamsudin, Depart-
ment of Process and Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,
Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor,
Malaysia. E-mail: soraya7787@gmail.com
underwent fragmentation under pressure. This evidence
demonstrates that the strength of the tablets is less affected
by the change in particle size when the material undergoes
fragmentation rather than plastic deformation (Roberts
and Rowe 1987; Gustafsson 2000). On the other hand, few
studies reported the tablet strength was positively affected
by an increase in particle size of the material (Wikberg and
Alderborn 1990; Johansson et al. 1998).
In the fertilizer industry, the improvement of urea fertilizer
through mechanically compressing and pelletizing the fertili-
zer has been shown to increase the strength, minimize
ammonia volatilization, total N loss, reducing the rate of
the urea hydrolysis, and improve the rate of plant growth
and retain the nitrogen in the soil (De Datta et al. 1983;
Mikkelsen et al. 1978; Othman 2011; Rahman et al. 1996;
Purakayastha and Katyal 1998; Savant and Stangel 1990,
1998; Yadvinder-Singh et al. 1994). To date, little information
is known on the effect of particle size in direct compaction of
urea fertilizer. Moreover, no reports are available in the
literature about the properties of urea fertilizer under the
inuence of an applied pressure such as elasticity, plasticity,
bonding, and brittleness (Amidon et al. 2009; Antikainen
and Yliruusi 2003), and also the effect of the ejection process
on the characteristics of the urea tablet. Such information is
essential for predicting any failure occurrence of urea tablet,
and the way the tablet may manifest or its tablet-forming abil-
ity (Han et al. 2008; Alderborn 2007; Ragnarsson and Sjogren
Effect of Particle Size on Urea Tablets
1983). Therefore, in this study, tablets made of urea granules
(TG tablets) and ground urea powder (TP tablets) have been
developed in order to investigate the effect of particle size on
compaction properties and characteristics of the tablets.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Materials
Urea in the form of granules and ground powders was used in
this study (Figures 1a and 1b). Available urea granules were
purchased from Petronas Fertilizer (Kedah) Sdn. Bhd.,
Malaysia. The characteristics of the urea granules included
particle size of 2 mm (diameter), included 46% nitrogen, 1%
biuret, 0.5% moisture by its maximum weight.
2.2 Methods
2.2.1 Sample Preparation
Ground urea powders were obtained by milling the urea
granules for 60 sec for every repetition using an electric
grinder (model RT-02A grinder, Taiwan). The process
resulted in particle sizes of 90% < 855.03 mm, 50% < 226.
20 mm, 10% < 10.62, bulk density of 471 kg=m3, tapped den-
sity of 765 kg=m3, and true density of 1380 kg=m3.
2.2.2 Uniaxial Die Compaction Method
Compaction by laboratory scale uniaxial die compaction
method was performed using Instron Universal Testing
5566 machine (USA). Five applied pressures ranges from
37.67 to 188.35 MPa, were used to compact 1.0
0.02 g of
the materials inside a 13 mm stainless steel cylindrical uniaxial
die (Specac, UK). The die and punches were cleaned with
ethanol prior to each compaction to remove any sticking pow-
der. The urea tablet was formed without lubricant in a con-
trolled temperature (2025 C). The loading and unloading
processes were conducted at constant speed of 0.1 mm=s and
0.0167 mm=s (Mohammed et al. 2005). The tablet was then
ejected from the die with a constant speed of 0.083 mm=s.
The applied force-displacement prole and ejection
force-displacement prole were recorded automatically using
a computer program from Bluehill Software (USA).
2.3 Compaction Properties
The analysis of plastic work, elastic work, and friction work
were estimated by integrating the area under the curve of the
Fig. 1. Urea in forms of a) granules and b) powders.
545
force-displacement prole (Ragnarsson and Sjogren 1983;
Oates and Mitchell 1989; Ragnarsson 1996; Antikainen
2003; Antikainen and Yliruusi 2003; Mohammed et al. 2005;
Viana et al. 2005; Alderborn 2007; Patel et al. 2007). Figure 2
shows a typical compaction curve obtained from the
force-displacement prole of the loading and unloading stages
of the compaction process. Area A is the friction work, where
work was expended to overcome the interparticles and die-
wall frictions (Paronen 1983; Velasco et al. 1997). The friction
phenomenon often occurs between the powder particles or
between the tablet and the die wall during the compaction by
the laboratory-scale uniaxial die compaction method (Moody
et al. 1981; Alderborn 2007). Area B is the plastic work, where
work was expended by the tablet to undergo plastic defor-
mation (permanent deformation), bonding, and the formation
of a rm tablet (Velasco et al. 1997). Area C refers to elastic
work, where work was expended to deform the particles by
temporary deformation (Ragnarsson 1996). The stored elastic
component in the tablet will be recovered or expended in the
expansion of the tablet, which takes place during the unloading
stage when the pressure on the tablet is relieved (Velasco et al.
1997; Antikainen 2003; Anuar and Briscoe 2009, 2010; Haware
et al. 2010; Govedarica et al. 2012), and also after ejection of
the tablet (Baily and York 1976). The maximum ejection press-
ure during ejection of the tablet can be obtained from the ejec-
tion force-displacement prole. According to Garr and
Rubinstein (1991) and Cutt et al. (1989), the plastic and elastic
works during loading and unloading stages are associated with
the tablet strength, by which the area A and C should be as
small as possible in order to form a large degree of plasticity
(area B) and to improve the tablet strength.
2.4 Tablet Characteristics
2.4.1 Mechanical Strength of Urea Tablets
The physical testing of the urea tablet was performed 24 h
after ejection, allowing for full elastic recovery of the tablet
Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of the force versus displacement
prole during uniaxial die compaction experiment (Ragnarsson
1996).
546 Shamsudin et al.

(Krycer et al. 1982; Mollan and Celik 1996). Physical mea-
surements and tests performed were weighed by electronic
mass balance (A&D, Japan), while tablet thickness and
diameter was measured using a Vernier calliper (Mitutoyo,
Japan). The strength of the urea tablet was determined by
Brazilian test using the Instron Universal Testing 5566
machine (USA) to estimate its tensile strength (Fell and
Newton 1970). The tablet was fractured diametrically in four
replicates at a constant speed of 0.0116 mm=s (Mohammed
et al. 2005). The tensile strength (rt) was calculated using
the equation by Fell and Newton (1970):
tablets and conventional urea granules were studied based
on their percentage of ammonium ion release in triplicate.
2.4.3 Particle Shape and Surface Characteristic
The particle shape of urea powder and urea tablets side
surfaces were examined using variable pressure scanning
electron microscope (LEO 1455 VPSEM, Germany) at an
accelerating voltage of 20 kV. The sample was mounted on
a 13 mm diameter sample stub using a double-sided adhesive
tape and sputter coated (BAL-TEC SCD 005, Germany)
with gold for 180 sec under reduced pressure.

2P 2.5 Data Analysis

rt ; 1
pDT
2.5.1 Statistical Analysis
where The experimental data for the TG and TP tablets were pre-
rt tensile strength, sented as mean of 3 or 4 replicates, and statistical analysis
P tensile force or tensile failure, was performed using Minitab 16 Statistical Software. The
D tablet diameter, and data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA)
T tablet thickness. and dened as signicantly different at p < 0.05. Whenever
a signicant difference was found from the ANOVA results,
2.4.2 Ammonium Ion Release Through Dissolution Test the data were compared using a t test.
When urea is applied to irrigated rice soil, the urea is hydro-
lyzed by water to form ammonium carbonate, an unstable
3. Results and Discussion
compound that can decompose to produce ammonium
(NH 4 ion, bicarbonate anion or hydrogen carbonate ion, 3.1 Compaction Properties
and release ammonia (NH3) gas (Mikkelsen 2009). In this
3.1.1 Plastic Work
study, the hydrolysis of the urea tablets was determined by
conducting a dissolution test as a method for ammonium The work for the TG and TP tablets to deform plastically at

various applied pressures is shown in Figure 3. The plastic
NH 4 ion analysis of the urea tablets made with different
work of the tablets increased with a logarithmic trend
particle sizes and applied pressures. The ammonium ion
as the applied pressure increase, which indicated that the
release reects the amount of nitrogen recovered, which is
deformation of the tablets was dependent on the applied
dissolved in a liquid medium during the dissolution test.
pressure. Apparently, the increase in plastic work with
Decreasing ammonium ion released indicates that the urea
applied pressure was more rapid in the low applied pressures
tablets possess a relatively higher tensile strength and mini-
range of 37.67 to 113 MPa and became moderate when using
mum loss of nitrogen content throughout the dissolution
high applied pressures of 150.68188.35 MPa. The increase
test. The test was conducted using a semi-automatic dissol-
in plastic work with applied pressure can be attributed to
ution tester (Pharma Test D-63512, Germany) using the
the predominant deformation at those applied pressure
paddle method. Three urea tablets weighed 3 g were placed
ranges.
in a covered beaker containing medium solution; 200 mL
In the early stage of compaction at low applied pressures,
distilled water (Purakayastha and Katyal 1998) of pH 6.8
the TG and TP tablets underwent particle rearrangement
at average ambient temperature of 30 C. The pH of distilled
water is always in the acidic range to avoid high emission of
ammonia gas and ensure the measurement of ammonium
ion content is correct (Mikkelsen 2009). The paddle was
rotated at 20 rpm (lowest paddle speed) to decelerate tablet
dissolving and promoting gradual homogeneous solution.
An amount of 4 mL of the sample was withdrawn from
the dissolution beaker over a period of 10 min and ltered
through fast ow lter 55 mm No. 111 (615 mm) (Filtres
Fioroni, France) for removal of any undissolved particles.
The values of ammonium ion concentration in the covered
beaker were measured photometrically using HI 96715
ammonia photometer high range (Hanna Instruments,
Inc., USA). The test was continued until 100% dissolution
or maximum reading of the ammonia photometer, for
example, 50 mg=L was achieved. For comparison purpose,
the ammonium ion released from conventional urea granules Fig. 3. Plastic work for TG and TP tablets at various applied
was also studied. The ammonium ion released from the urea pressures. Error bars are standard error of the mean, n 4.
Effect of Particle Size on Urea Tablets 547

and low elastic deformation, which caused a large volume

reduction. For that reason, the rate of plastic work with
pressure is rapid and the magnitude of plastic work at
applied pressures of 37.67113 MPa is high. At higher
applied pressures, the deformation becomes dominant,
which requires more energy input than required for particle
rearrangement and the rate of volume reduction with
pressure is less for the TG and TP tablets. This explains
the lower increase in plastic work with applied pressure,
where the deformation is dominant at applied pressures of
150.68188.35 MPa.
In Figure 3, the TG tablets have a higher level of plastic
work compared to the TP tablets at all applied pressures
except at 188.35 MPa. Zuurman et al. (1999) reported a high
plastic work related with difcult compaction of the parti-
cles. This might be due to the large and spherical shape of
the TG particles (Rahman et al. 1996).
It is assumed that the sequence of the deformation of TG
tablets can be divided into three modes and described
according to the deformation of pellets (Nicklasson and
Alderborn 1999; Tunon 2003). During compaction, the TG
particles possibly undergo: a) mode 1 deformation, where
the surfaces of the TG particles are attened under applied
pressure; b) extended mode 1 deformation, where the sur-
faces of the TG particles undergo indentations at certain
points of contact; and c) mode 2 deformation, where the
dimensions of the TG particles are attened due to the
change in the dimensions of the particles.
A further increase in the applied pressure results in
attening of the TG particles against the other adjacent
TG particles to a greater extent (Nicklasson et al. 1999a,
1999b) and thus, fragmented by brittle fracture into smaller
and discrete particles. This repetition of deformation and
breaking increases the surface area of the TG particles and
also the area for forming the bonding (Duberg and Nystrom
1982; Alderborn et al. 1985; Alderborn 2007). This work is
supported by Nicklasson and Alderborn (1999) who studied
Fig. 4. SEM images of TG tablets at a) 37.67 MPa and b) 188.35
the deformation of MCC=PEG pellets. They stated that the
MPa.
degree of permanent deformation which the pellets undergo
during compaction is controlled by the area of contact
formed between the pellets.
Increasing the applied pressure from 150.68 to 188.35 MPa strated a tendency to move very slowly to each other and
does not show any signicant (p > 0.05) difference for the have time to deform during the compaction (Sun and Grant
TG tablets, showing that the high degree of permanent 2001). After an applied pressure of 150.68 MPa, signicant
deformation had reached at the applied pressures of 150.68 (p < 0.05) differences in the plastic work for the TP tablets
and 188.35 MPa. Referring to Figures 4a and 4b, the SEM are observed by which the TP tablets exhibit higher plastic
images of tablets side surfaces for TG tablets at lowest work than TG tablets. This means that more energy is
and highest applied pressures; 37.67 and 188.35 MPa, required to form the TP tablets at a high applied pressure
respectively, shows new smooth surfaces. This indicated that of 188.35 MPa. This may be due to the utilization of more
the TG tablets are mainly consolidated by fragmentation as energy to overcome the increased cohesiveness of the TP
the deformed particles in the TG tablets depend on the particles that occur at high applied pressure. In addition, it
compaction pressure (Antikainen and Yliruusi is expected that the applied pressure for deformation of
2003). the TP particles may be higher than the applied pressure
In Figure 3, TP tablets have less plastic work compared to of 188.35 MPa in order to achieve constant plastic defor-
TG tablets at low applied pressures of 37.67113 MPa. This mation and consequently, form a large surface area for
is because TP particles consisted of an aggregate of very bonding. This is in agreement with the SEM images of TP
small particles with irregular angular shape and rough sur- tablets in Figures 6a and 6b by which the applied pressures
faces (Figures 5a and 5b). These small TP particles demon- used in this study have not successfully deform the particles
548
Fig. 5. SEM images of urea powders at a) 1000 and b) 100
magnication.
of TP tablets. This observation was possibly due to the small
and irregular angular shape of TP particles possessed which
required relatively higher applied pressure than 188.35 MPa
to undergo full plastic deformation.
3.1.2 Elastic Work
In Figure 7, the elastic work for TG and TP tablets
increased as the applied pressure increased. During comp-
action, elastic energy is stored in the tablet under applied
pressure for elastic deformation. The restoration of this
energy takes place during the unloading stage of the com-
paction process (Akande et al. 1997). Therefore, the appli-
cation of applied pressure during the compaction process
greatly inuenced the amount of stored elastic energy in
the tablet. An increase of the applied pressure leads to an
increased in the stored elastic energy (Patel et al. 2007).
This explained the increase in elastic work as the applied
pressure is increased.
Shamsudin et al.
Fig. 6. SEM images of TP tablets at a) 37.67 MPa and b) 188.35
MPa.
In Figure 7, the elastic work for both tablets does not
show any signicant (p > 0.05) difference from applied pres-
sures of 37.67113 MPa. However, the values of the elastic
work for the TP tablets are signicantly (p < 0.05) lower
than that of the TG tablets at high applied pressures
(150.68 and 188.35 MPa). The result indicates a favorable
low tablet relaxation for the TP tablets as compared to the
TG tablets due to its low elastic work. Moreover, it shows
that a high applied pressure can inuence the elastic defor-
mation for both tablets, but to a greater extent for the TG
tablets as compared to the TP tablets. The lower elastic
deformation at higher pressures also conrms that the TP
tablets undergo higher plastic deformation as the applied
pressure is increased (Figure 3). That is, greater inter-
particulate contact and particle adhesivity (Sebhatu and
Alderborn 1999) reduced the time available for the TP
tablets to relieve the elastic energy. In addition, Patel et al.
(2007) pointed out that a smaller particle size undergoes less
elastic deformation than a larger particle size. Meanwhile,
Effect of Particle Size on Urea Tablets
Fig. 7. Elastic work for TG and TP tablets at various applied
pressures. Error bars are standard error of the mean, n 4.
the high elastic work of the TG tablets shows its high level of
tablet relaxation as the result of low interparticulate bond-
ing. This is in agreement with Zuurman et al. (1999) who sta-
ted that tablet relaxation increases as the interparticle
bonding is decreased.
3.1.3 Friction Work
In Figure 8, the work to overcome the friction for the TG
and TP tablets increases with increasing applied pressure.
This is because during the compaction, some energy was also
lost in the form of heat due to friction encountered between
the particles and the die-wall and interparticles friction. As
the applied pressure increases, the work used to deform
the particles plastically increases. Thus, the friction work is
also increased. In Figure 8, there is no signicant (p > 0.05)
difference of friction work with the applied pressure between
the TG and TP tablets at applied pressures of 37.67
150.68 MPa. A high friction work is observed for the TP
tablets when formed at an applied pressure of 188.35 MPa
which corresponding to domination by the large plastic
deformation that the tablets suffered (Figure 3). Therefore,
more energy was required to overcome the friction in the
TP tablets than the TG tablets.
Fig. 8. Friction work for TG and TP tablets at various applied
pressures. Error bars are standard error of the mean, n 4.
549
3.1.4 Maximum Ejection Pressure
The maximum ejection pressure for the TG and TP tablets
as shown in Figure 9 is nonlinear with applied pressure. In
Figure 9, the maximum ejection pressure for the TG tablets
is high for the low applied pressures (37.67113 MPa) and it
does not show any effect when the applied pressure is
further increased (188.35 MPa). This can be attributed to
the deformation of the TG particles during the compaction
process. At low applied pressures of 37.67113 MPa, the
plastic work is high for the TG tablets, which require a high
maximum ejection pressure in order to overcome the friction
between the die wall and the tablet. As the pressure
increases, the deformation of the TG tablets becomes
relatively low and constant. For that reason, a relatively
constant maximum ejection pressure is necessary to eject
the TG tablets when formed at applied pressures of 113
188.35 MPa. This is because a high applied pressure does
not further affect the friction of ejection. On the other hand,
the increase of maximum ejection pressure for the TP tablets
is apparently seen from applied pressures of 37.67
150.68 MPa and undergoes a high descent from applied
pressures of 150.68188.35 MPa, suggesting a reduction in
resistance to friction at that applied pressure. It can be
observed that the TG tablets have a lower maximum ejec-
tion pressure than the TP tablets as a result of a higher elas-
tic relaxation in the TG tablets which corresponded to a
high elastic work (Figure 7). This observation gives an
advantage during the ejection process by which a plastic
junction cannot form between the tablet and the die wall
(Mohammed et al. 2006). This effect points to facilitating
the ejection process which in turn requires a low maximum
ejection pressure.
3.2 Tablet Characteristics
3.2.1 Mechanical Strength of Tablet
A logarithmic trend relating to the tensile strength and
applied pressure for the TG and TP tablets is observed in
Figure 10. The initial tensile strength for the TG tablets is
signicantly (p < 0.05) different in comparison to the TP
Fig. 9. Maximum ejection pressure for TG and TP tablets at
various applied pressures. Error bars are standard error of the
mean, n 4.
550
Fig. 10. Tensile strength for TG and TP tablets at various
applied pressures. Error bars are standard error of the mean,
n 4.
tablets at a low applied pressure of 37.67 MPa. A higher
tensile strength is observed for the TP tablets over the TG
tablets at applied pressures of 75.34188.35 MPa. For the
TP tablets, this increase in tensile strength may continue to
increase and exceed the pressure range used in this study.
In contrast, the tensile strength for the TG tablets increases
over applied pressures of 37.6775.34 MPa and then decreases
by a small value beyond an applied pressure of 75.34 MPa.
In Figure 10, the TG tablets produced are low strength
tablets due to the low tensile strength. Thus, it can be
deduced that the TG tablet was unable to maintain its
inter-particulate bonding due to its weak deformation dur-
ing compaction. That is, the TG tablets were deformed by
both plastic and fragmenting deformation, but to a greater
extent by fragmentation. This is explained by the relatively
high plastic work (Figure 3) of the TG tablets which causes
the tablets to possess the lowest tensile strength (Figure 10)
in comparison to the TP tablets.
On the other hand, the TP tablets produced are strong
tablets, referring to their higher tensile strength which is
Fig. 11. Ammonium ion release for urea granules, TG, and TP tablets at various applied pressures. Error bars are standard error of
the mean, n 3.
Shamsudin et al.
almost double than that of the TG tablets. The irregular
shape and rough surfaces of the TP particles may contribute
to the increase in the interparticulate bonding and the tablet
strength (Wong and Pilpel 1990; Nikolakakis and Pilpel
1988). This is supported by the data shown earlier in
Figure 3, where an increase in the plastic work is observed
with the increase in the applied pressure. Therefore, a high
pressure failure during the mechanical strength test is
expected for the TP tablets due to the increase in the inter-
particulate bonding within the tablets. This explains the
higher tensile strength of the TP tablets compared to the
TG tablets, showing their higher mechanical strength.
Moreover, it can be deduced that the reduction in particle
size of the urea (urea powder) causes the material to suffer
greater deformation. In this case, the TP tablets consolidate
more by plastic deformation due to their high plastic work
and tensile strength. On the other hand, the TG tablets are
susceptible to deform by fragmentation as a result of the
relatively high plastic work but low tensile strength.
3.2.2 Dissolution Test
The ammonium ion release from the urea granules, TG and
TP tablets is shown in Figure 11. The ammonium ion release
for the urea granules is 35.73% after 10 min of the dissol-
ution test. TG tablets give lower ammonium ion release as
compared to the urea granules at all applied pressures while
the TP tablets give lower ammonium ion release than the
urea granules when the tablets are formed at low applied
pressures of 37.67 and 75.34 MPa.
Among the applied pressures used to form TG tablets,
applied pressure of 150.68 MPa gives the lowest ammonium
ion release (24.13%) compared to other applied pressures.
This is contrary with the nding from mechanical strength
test by which the tensile strength for TG tablets formed at
applied pressure of 37.67 MPa gives the lowest tensile
strength. Therefore, the ammonium ion release for TG
tablets at applied pressure of 37.67 MPa should be high in
comparison to other applied pressures. Meanwhile, the
applied pressure of 188.35 MPa give the highest ammonium
Effect of Particle Size on Urea Tablets
ion release. This is expected as the tensile strength for TG
tablets formed at applied pressure of 188.35 MPa gives
relatively low tensile strength (Figure 10). From this obser-
vation, it shows that all applied pressures used to deform
the TG tablets except 188.35 MPa do not have much inu-
ence on the release of ammonium ion.
Comparing the applied pressures used for TP tablets, it is
clearly seen that applied pressure of 75.34 MPa gives the
lowest ammonium ion release (29.2%) in comparison to
other applied pressures. Referring to Figure 10, the tensile
strength for TP tablets increased with increasing of the
applied pressures. Thus, it is expected that the ammonium
ion release decreased as the applied pressure increase for
the TP tablets. However, this is not the case as observed at
applied pressures of 113188.35 MPa by which the release
of ammonium ion is higher than the other applied pressures.
This is most probably because of the rough surfaces of the
TP tablets and common defects such as cracks that are
produced during the compaction and ejection process. This
is supported by SEM images of the TP tablets side surfaces
at applied pressure of 188.35 MPa (Figure 6b). Figure 6b
shows that the irregular TP particles and rough surfaces
are not fully deformed. For that reason, these kinds of sur-
faces may allow the easy penetration of water and release the
ammonium ion more rapidly.
At all applied pressures except 75.34 MPa, TG tablets
give lower ammonium ion release than TP tablets. This
observation may be due to the deformation they possessed
during compaction. SEM images of tablets side surfaces at
applied pressures of 37.67 and 188.35 MPa in Figures 4a,
4b, 6a, and 6b revealed that TG tablets are well deformed
than TP tablets. The surfaces of TG tablets are smooth
and have fewer pores compared to TP tablets.
4. Conclusion
The compaction study shows that TG tablets consume more
energy for plastic work, dissipated large elastic energy (elas-
tic work) in the expansion of the tablet and required lower
maximum ejection pressure as compared to the TP tablets.
The mechanical strength demonstrated by the TP tablets
has a higher tensile strength than the TG tablets. The
dissolution test shows that the use of larger particles (TG
tablets) give a lower ammonium ion release compared to
the smaller particles (TP tablets) at all applied pressures
except 75.34 MPa.
Funding
The authors wish to thank Universiti Putra Malaysia
Research University Grant project number 05-02-12-
1921RU, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia project
no. 03-04-10-815FR, and Graduate Research Fellowship of
Universiti Putra Malaysia for the funding.
NOMENCLATURE
NH3 (gas) ammonia gas
NH4 ammonium ion
551
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