Evaluation of Compressional and Mechanical properties of Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) starch flour and its Tablets

Abstract

The compressional and physicochemical parameters of cocoyam starch and the mechanical properties of its tablets were evaluated. The compressional characteristics were analyzed using density measurement, Heckel and Kawakita plots. The cocoyam starch had a high value of Hausner’s ratio, indicated high densification and poor flowability of the starch. The viscosity profile of the cocoyam starch showed that the viscosity increased as the temperature was increased. The tablets without hole at the centre had higher tensile strength (T) than those tablets with hole at the centre. The brittle fracture index (BFI) of the tablets at various applied pressures had values very close to unity, particularly tablets with hole at 0.25Nm^-2 applied pressure. The friability test indicated that tablets without hole had better resistance to stress, friction and abrasion than tablets with hole at the centre. The results suggested that cocoyam starch could be useful as a binder or disintegrant in tablets formulation due to good compressional and mechanical properties of its tablets.