Resources

Tools and references for compound form factor decisions.

Technical guides, an interactive dissolution simulator, and reference material to help you specify the right geometry for your application - before you place an order.

Dissolution Simulator Technical Guides Glossary FAQ
Dissolution Simulator

Model how your tablet geometry affects dissolution time.

Adjust diameter, thickness, and compound properties to predict how quickly a pressed tablet dissolves in solution. The model uses the validated Noyes-Whitney equation with Hixson-Crowell shrinking-surface geometry and full sink correction.

Benchmarked against benzoic acid in water at 25°C. Accurate within 4% of literature IDR values under equivalent diffusion layer conditions.

How geometry drives dissolution
Surface area / Volume ratioHigher → faster
Thinner tablet↑ SA/V → faster
Wider diameter↑ SA, ↑ Vol
Higher solubility↑ driving force
AgitationThins h_d layer
Finite vessel volumeConc. builds → slows
Physics model
dM/dt = −(D/hd) · SA(t) · (Cs − C(t))
SA(t) = SA₀ · (M/M₀)2/3
Tablet Dissolution Simulator
Noyes-Whitney · Hixson-Crowell · Sink correction
Benchmark - benzoic acid, 25°C, hd = 20 µm: Literature IDR ≈ 0.82 mg/min/cm² Model: - mg/min/cm² calculating…
Presets
Diameter (mm) 13.0
Thickness (mm) 6.0
Density (g/cm³) 1.27
Solubility Cs (g/L) 3.4
Diffusivity D (×10⁻⁹ m²/s) 0.80
Vessel volume (mL) 200
Diff. layer hd (µm) 50
Agitation factor 1.0×
Non-sink conditions - concentration in vessel is approaching Cs - dissolution will stall before the tablet fully dissolves.
Mass
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mg
Init. SA
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mm²
IDR
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mg/min/cm²
T₅₀
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min
T₉₀
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min
Complete
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min
Mass remaining Half thickness Double thickness Conc. in vessel →

Technical Guides

Reading material for specifying the right form.

Short, practical references written for scientists - not engineers. Each covers one decision point in the mold specification process.

Geometry
SA/V Ratio and Dissolution: What Every Formulator Should Know

Why surface area to volume ratio is the single most predictive geometric parameter for dissolution rate, and how to calculate it for cylinders, spheres, discs, and domes.

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Materials
Choosing Between Silicone, Acrylic, and Metal Molds for Your Compound

A decision framework for mold material selection based on compound chemistry, casting temperature, solvent contact, regulatory requirements, and production volume.

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Tolerances
How ±20 µm Dimensional Accuracy Translates to Mass Reproducibility

Worked examples showing the relationship between cavity volume tolerance and unit-to-unit mass variance - critical for potent compounds and limited-supply intermediates.

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Controlled Release
Cylinder vs. Sphere vs. Disc: Which Geometry Fits Your Release Target?

Comparative dissolution profiles for the five core geometries. Includes the governing equations and practical guidelines for matching form factor to target T₅₀ and T₈₀ release windows.

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Process
Submitting a Mold Specification: What We Need and Why

A walkthrough of the information required for a DFM review - from CAD formats and dimensional callouts to compound class, casting method, and downstream process constraints.

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All Guides
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We write technical reference material on request. If there's a form factor question your team keeps running into, let us know.

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Glossary

Key terms in dissolution and form factor science.

Definitions written for scientists who work with compounds - not for pharmacokineticists. Focused on what the terms mean for mold geometry decisions.

Noyes-Whitney Equation

The governing equation for dissolution rate. States that the rate of mass transfer from a solid surface into solution is proportional to the surface area and the concentration gradient at the surface.

dM/dt = (D · SA · (Cs − C)) / h_d
Intrinsic Dissolution Rate (IDR)

The dissolution rate per unit surface area under sink conditions. A compound property (not a tablet property) - independent of geometry. Used to compare inherent solubility kinetics between compounds.

IDR = D · Cs / h_d  [mg/min/cm²]
Hixson-Crowell Law

Describes how surface area decreases as a tablet erodes, using the cube-root relationship between mass and surface area. Applies when the tablet dissolves uniformly from all faces while maintaining its aspect ratio.

SA(t) = SA₀ · (M(t) / M₀)^(2/3)
Diffusion Layer (h_d)

The thin stagnant film of solvent adjacent to the dissolving surface through which the compound must diffuse before entering the bulk. Agitation reduces h_d and accelerates dissolution. Typically 10–100 µm under experimental conditions.

Sink Conditions

A dissolution experiment is under "sink conditions" when the dissolved concentration in the vessel remains much lower than the saturation solubility - typically C < 0.2 × Cs. Ensures a near-constant driving gradient and prevents premature plateau.

SA/V Ratio

Surface area divided by volume. The most important geometric predictor of dissolution rate - higher SA/V means faster dissolution for the same compound. Thinner tablets and smaller diameters both increase SA/V.

For cylinder: SA/V = 2(r + h) / (r · h)
T₅₀ / T₈₀ / T₉₀

The time to 50%, 80%, or 90% dissolution of the initial tablet mass. T₈₀ is a common regulatory and formulation benchmark. T₉₀ marks near-complete dissolution. These are outputs of geometry and compound properties - not design inputs.

Diffusivity (D)

The diffusion coefficient of the compound in the solvent - a measure of how quickly molecules spread through the medium. Depends on molecular size, solvent viscosity, and temperature. For small molecules in water at 25°C, typically 0.5–2.0 × 10⁻⁹ m²/s.


FAQ

Common questions about molds and dissolution.

It's physics. The Noyes-Whitney equation shows that dissolution rate is directly proportional to surface area. A disc-shaped tablet with the same mass as a sphere has a significantly higher SA/V ratio and will dissolve measurably faster - often by a factor of 2–4× depending on the diameter/thickness ratio. The simulator on this page lets you quantify that difference for your specific compound.
Yes. The simulator models a cylinder, which covers pellets (height ≈ diameter), discs (height << diameter), and rods (height >> diameter). A flat disc is just a very thin cylinder - set thickness low and diameter high. For approximate sphere behavior, set diameter and thickness to equal values.
At minimum: target shape, key dimensions (diameter, height, radius), dimensional tolerance requirement, compound class and any known chemistry (solvent resistance, temperature limits), and how you intend to cast or dispense. CAD files help but aren't required - a dimensioned sketch or written spec works fine for initial review.
Yes. Our ±20 µm tolerance on cavity dimensions translates to very tight volume reproducibility at small scales. For a 2 mm diameter, 1 mm thick disc (≈3.1 mm³), a ±20 µm error in height translates to ±0.1% volume variance - well within the requirements for most potent compound programs. We CMM-verify all first articles before shipment.
Platinum-cured silicone does not release tin catalysts or other cytotoxic byproducts, making it USP Class VI and ISO 10993-compliant. It is non-reactive with the vast majority of aqueous and biological matrices. However, silicone can absorb certain small hydrophobic molecules and is not suitable for prolonged contact with strong aromatic solvents. For solvent-resistant applications we use fluorosilicone or aluminum/stainless alternatives - contact us with your chemistry for a compatibility assessment.
The simulator is validated against benzoic acid dissolution data and agrees within ~4% of literature IDR values under matched diffusion layer conditions. It is a mechanistic model, not a fitted empirical curve, so accuracy depends on how well the input parameters (D, Cs, h_d) represent your actual system. Use it for relative geometry comparisons and order-of-magnitude time estimates - not as a substitute for experimental dissolution testing.
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