Experiment No: 3

Aim: Size Analysis by sieving – To evaluate size distribution

of tablet granulations- Construction of various size frequency
curves including arithmetic antilogarithmic probability plots.
Requirements: Sieves of different sizes, compound, weighing
machine, etc.
Theory:
Sieve Number: Number of meshes in a length of 25.4 mm [1
inch] in each direction parallel to wires.
Nominal Size of Aperture: This is the distance between the
wires so that it represents the length of the side of square
aperture. While it is the diameter of largest sphere that would
pass the mash.
Mean Particle diameter: It is the most important single
statistic parameter because if the proper diameter is chosen
various other parameter of interest such as specific surface area,
number, mean particles weight can be calculated.
Mean Particles Size: A single number is represented as mean
size of powder sample.

Mean Particle size = ∑ d×w/w (here we will take 100)

Arithmetic Mean: Arithmetic mean is obtained by summation

of particular parameter ex: Mean aperture size for all individual
particles. This value is divided by the weight of particles. Mean
can be related to diameter surface area, volume or mass of
particles.
Size Distribution: Size distribution of particles affect the flow
characteristic packing densities, compressibility and
segregation tendency. Particles can be classified by
determining the number of particles in successive size ranges.
The distribution can be represented by a bar graph or histogram.

Normal or Symmetrical particle size distribution Curve:

Here a line through the center of curve to abscissa divides the
area into two equal parts and represents the mean value.
Standard deviation [ Root mean square deviation] about the
mean serves to define the spread of curve on either side of
midpoint. Normal size distribution indicates that powder has a
larger range or spread of diameters.
Skewed Distribution:
Most particulate material cannot be described by a normal
distribution curve. The resultant curves are usually skewed.
Not all particle populations are characterized by symmetrical,
normal size distribution. They are skewed distribution.

Cumulative- Distribution Representation

Percentage Frequency Undersize: If addition sequence
begins with coarsest particles and vice versa. It is possible to
compare two or more particle populations by means of
cumulative distribution representation.