Tablets & Capsules

TC1018

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tablet and capsule marking Tablets & Capsules October 2018 25 I required for direct laser marking of pharmaceuticals has been in place. Twenty years ago, approximately 22,000 laser marking machines were in use in various industries worldwide, some of which were using carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) lasers to imprint lot numbers on the aluminum backing of pharmaceutical blister packs [2]. CO 2 lasers were not suitable for marking individual tablets or cap- sules through the clear plastic of a blister pack, however, because CO 2 radiation melts the plastic and destroys the package. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, on the other hand, safely passes through a transparent blister and can be used to mark tablets or capsules pigmented with titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) [3]. This article describes the basic principles of UV laser marking and its applicability to solid oral dosage forms. It focuses on laser-surface interactions with emphasis on the role of titanium dioxide exposed to intensive UV laser pulses in the process of marking. Topics covered include experimental data and theory, advantages and limitations, and practical implementations. n 2016, the global market for laser marking machines was estimated at $2.21 billion [1], yet only a handful of lasers are currently used for direct identification of phar- maceuticals. For decades, every major component Direct UV laser marking of tablets and capsules Igor Murokh Tri-Star Technologies

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