Partner Profile

Pharmaceutical Physics Group, Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University


Areas of Expertise

The Pharmaceutical Physics Group develops contact models and simulation tools for powders and granular materials. We focus on confined powder compression, the common means to manufacture pharmaceutical tablets. Our overall aim is to provide direct links between the particle, powder and tablet scales using a bottom-up strategy where the behaviours of the powder and final product are inferred from those of the constituent particles. First, we conduct experimental studies of the response of single particles under confined conditions, using unique test equipment that has been developed in our laboratory. Second, based on the experimental results in conjunction with results from simulations, new models for the particle interaction are formulated. Third, the developed models are implemented in computational software and simulations are performed to translate the knowledge on the particle scale to the behaviour of the powder when compressed to tablets. Our methodology allows us to investigate the compression process in depth, so that a number of important scientific and engineering questions can be addressed, ranging from the response of single particles to the formation of compacts.

Recent Publications

Research Interests
  • Mechanics of single particles and powders, especially under confined conditions
  • Contact models and simulation tools for confined powder compression
  • Implications of contact dependence and plastic incompressibility on particle-scale simulations of powder compression
  • Identification of factors that control the compressibility and compactibility of powders