Table 7.2.3.

Tablet filler materials

Filler	Shape	Size	Polarisation	Histochemistry
Starch	Round	8–12 µm	Maltese cross	d-PAS
Talc	Platy but seen edge-on as needles	5–15 µm	Strong	None
Cellulose	Fibrous	25–200 µm	Strong	PAS, Congo red
Crosprovidone	Globular or coral-like	100 µm	Negative	Mucicarmine, Congo red
Magnesium stearate	Irregular	5–10 µm	Positive	None
Silica	Irregular	10–20 µm	Positive	None

d-PAS, diastase-controlled periodic acid–Schiff.