In solid dosage form research and production, empty capsule specification selection directly affects drug content uniformity, disintegration performance, and machine compatibility. This article provides precise physical parameters of industry mainstream specifications and professional selection logic recommendations.
1. Empty Capsule Common Specification Parameter Comparison Table
StellarCaps strictly implements standardized production, ensuring products have excellent dimensional stability and closure consistency on fully automatic high-speed filling machines.
| Size | Cap Length (mm) | Body Length (mm) | Volume (ml) | Theoretical Fill Weight Reference (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00# | 11.50～11.90 | 20.00～20.40 | 0.95 | 500 - 950 |
| 0# | 10.70～11.10 | 18.40～18.80 | 0.68 | 350 - 680 |
| 1# | 9.60～10.00 | 16.40～16.80 | 0.50 | 250 - 500 |
| 2# | 8.80～9.20 | 15.20～15.60 | 0.37 | 180 - 370 |
| 3# | 7.90～8.30 | 13.40～13.80 | 0.30 | 150 - 300 |
| 4# | 7.00～7.40 | 12.00～12.40 | 0.21 | 100 - 210 |
* Data source: "Empty Capsule Specification Size and Appearance Quality" T/CNPPA 3008—2020
Note: Actual fill weight is greatly affected by material bulk density. The above data is for reference only. It is recommended to determine the optimal specification through actual trial filling. For technical support, please contact our technical team through Contact Us.
Professional recommendation: In large-scale domestic pharmaceutical production, Empty Gelatin Capsules remain the preferred material for the majority of pharmaceutical customers with mature production technology and extremely high cost-effectiveness. For more product information, visit the Product Center for detailed introductions.
Common Specifications Recommendation: Sizes 0 (0#), 1 (1#), and 2 (2#) are widely used specifications in the pharmaceutical industry and are suitable for many drug formulations. StellarCaps can discuss order planning, common colors, and batch supply requirements according to the confirmed product plan.
2. Selection Considerations in Pharmaceutical Production
Empty capsule size selection depends not only on drug weight but more crucially on the physical properties of the contents:
1. Focus on Material Bulk Density
Drug bulk density determines the capsule volume required for the same weight.
Low Bulk Density Powders: If the drug powder is relatively fluffy (low density), to ensure fill weight meets standards, it is usually necessary to select a larger volume size, such as size 00 (00#) or size 0 (0#).
High Bulk Density Granules: Materials processed through granulation technology have higher density, often achieving the target load in smaller capsules, such as size 1 (1#) or size 2 (2#).
2. Reserve Reasonable Filling Space
To ensure the stability of the filling machine during high-speed operation, it is recommended that the content volume occupy 80% - 85% of the capsule volume. Moderate filling pressure not only helps control content uniformity but also effectively reduces "dent" or "locking failure" phenomena during filling.
For more technical details about capsule filling technology, see our StellarCaps News section for professional guidance.