1. Capillary action: Disintegrating agents can form capillary channels that are easy to wet in tablets. When the tablet is placed in water, water can quickly enter the interior of the tablet through these channels, causing the entire tablet to wet and disintegrate.
2. Expansion effect: Disintegrating agents have strong water absorption and expansion properties, which help to break down the binding force of tablets. The increase in expansion rate indicates the significance of disintegration efficiency.
3. Gas production effect: Some disintegrants can produce gas in chemical reactions, such as citric acid or tartaric acid commonly found in effervescent tablets reacting with sodium carbonate or bicarbonate to produce carbon dioxide gas. The expansion of gas volume helps the tablet to disintegrate.
4. Enzymatic hydrolysis: Certain specific enzymes have a catalytic effect on the excipients in tablets, which can quickly decompose when exposed to water, leading to the disintegration of the tablets.
In summary, the main function of disintegrants is to rely on their good water absorption and swelling properties, promote water penetration through capillary action, or generate gas through chemical reactions, thereby achieving tablet disintegration.