Understanding How Many Grams Fit in A Size 0 Capsule?

1.What do you know about size 0 capsule?

Size 0 capsule

Size 0 capsule is most commonly used capsule after capsule size of 00 because of its size and filling weight. This type of capsule size holds about 500mg of material. A dietary supplements, herbal powder or liquid, and other medications. It can be easily swallowed. The best thing is you can easily fill the capsules at home. Approximately 0.68ml of volume can be filled in this size of capsule. Diversity in its material existence is wide; available in gelatin, pullulan, and in vegetarian capsule.

2.What factors will affect the filling weight of size 0 capsule?

Size 0 capsule has a fixed volume. But weight varies. Different factors come in a way that affect filling weight. It makes a big difference. For accurate dosing, consistent filling, understanding physical and environmental factors are necessary as they play a significant role in weight and fitting a gram in this capsule. Let’s dig the factors.

Bulk Density of the Powder

Bulk Density of the Powder-Picture courtesy: azom.com

Density in term of powder means weight of powder per unit volume. Includes even spaces among powder. The two equally full capsules of different powder can have vary weight. Reason? Difference in weight of each material. High density of powder is heavier and can be easily settle so more grams can be fit. While less density powder takes more space, so less powder with more space can fit in.

Particle Shape and Flowability

Particle Shape and Flowability

Shape and size of particles has great affect on flowability of powder in capsule and how well they settle in capsule. But how you give a thought, what is the connection of particle size and flowability with fitting in capsule of size 0? Fine powder accurately fills in and has high fill weight. Uneven particles lead uneven fill and less fill weight.

Filling Method

Different methods are used to fill capsules of size 0. They can be manual, semi-automated and automated. In manual handling, weight can be varied, some can have high fill weight while others have less, with less compressing. In automated filling, good tamping tools allow more compression of powder and increase fill weight. Same amount of powder but different filling methods results in different fill weight per capsule.

Moisture Content & Storage Conditions

Moisture Content & Storage Conditions

Are you storing your capsule or powder in industry at right place? Well, storage condition affects the flowability and fill weight. A moist powder clump and stick together. This reduces the flowability of powder. As due to its expanding, it couldn’t accurately fill, thus reduces the fill weight. While dry powder is electrostatically charged, so doesn’t settle evenly. However, store powder and capsule in cool and dry place.

3.How many grams fit in a size 0 capsule?

Grams fit in a size 0 capsule

Generally, capsule is used to hold powder or granule form medication. There is different size of capsule available. But size 0 capsule is most commonly used due to its easy swallowing. Now, how much grams of powder are fit in this size capsule depends on density of powder that you are going to fill in. Hence, different substance has different densities, capsule weight varies side by side.

Size 0 capsule holds approximately 0.5 gram, 500mg of powder. In mL(milliliters), it can withstand with 0.68ml of volume. Density varies from substance to substance. Thus, measure the density before fit in size 0 capsule.

Here below are the few examples that has distinct weight from each other.

Since you could read the above chart, each has distinct density and weight in this type of capsule. So, weight of capsule depends on density of encapsulated powder or substance.

4.What are capsule sizes and their weight capacities?

Capsule sizes and their weight capacities-Picture Courtesy: capsuline.com

Different sizes of capsules are used in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and other industries to encapsulate granules and powder. These standardize sizes hold different dosages by volume or weight. One of the large size capsules is 000, followed by 00 and 5 the smallest. You might think that the size 5 may hold less substance but this is not the case. Even a largest size capsule can hod less weight. Reason? All due to density. The weight capacity of capsule depends on weight of material you are filling in. Following below is the chart shows volume and weight a different capsule sizes hold.

5.Understanding density: why not all powders weigh the same?

If you are a manufacturer, understanding density is the key. Because while filling capsules, knowing their weight is necessary. Two filled capsules filled with different material or powder may seem same by weight and by filling. But they could have different weight. the reason is all material and powders have different density. A density is expressed in a weight by mass fit in given volume.

Powders have different physical and chemical properties even while look same. Here below are the following reasons why not all powders weigh the same.

Particle shape

Particle shape

Particles can be in spherical or in irregular shape. To add in your knowledge, spherical shape of powder particles has less space in between and are tightly packed. Thus, they have high density. More weight in less space. On the other hand, irregular shape particles have more air space and has less density, so, less weight in same space.

Particle size

Particle size

Particle size could be small, large, fine or coarse. Small and fine particle can be packed tightly together, leaving no space. However, they have high density. While coarse particles don’t tightly packed, leaving empty space. Thus, they have less density.

Compressibility

Compressibility

Since powders are different from each other by nature. Some can be easily compressed when applied pressure. So, they stack well together and compressed. This increases the density. While some don’t compress easily even when apply force. There will be less density.

Moisture content

Moist powder has high density because they are stacked together and are heavier. Dry powder is light and has high flowability, easily take more space. So, it has less density.

6.How to calculate the weight of your capsule fills?

Calculate the weight of your capsule fills

Since capsules can fill in home from herbal powder, pharmaceutical medication and others. To know the amount of powder each capsule by weight. different powder can fit differently in same capsule due to difference in density and other properties. For accurate result and consistent dosing, knowing how to calculate weight of your capsule is necessary.

• To know weight of your capsule fill, the formula you need to keep in mind is
• Capsule fill weight= volume of capsule ^ density of powder
• Volume of different size capsules are listed above in question 4. Like volume of size 000 size capsule is 1.37 ml, 0.96 ml of size 00 and so on.
• Now, you have to determine density of powder. To calculate density of powder, following formula should be used.

Density = Mass (g)​ / Volume (ml)

Following below is the chart that shows different powder fill weight in size 0 capsule. Volume of   size 0 capsule is 0.68 ml.

7.How to choose the right capsule size for your needs?

Selecting right capsule size is necessary for accurate dosing and efficient delivery of medication when filling in the supplement and pharmaceutical product. This ensures that you are taking the correct dosage and making capsule easy to swallow. From largest to smallest, capsules are available in every size. They hold different weight and density of powder. Following below are the factors you need to consider while choosing right size capsule for your need.

Find powder amount

First thing to consider and need to know is how much powder you are handling. Because every powder has different density and each require size capsule accordingly.

Know density of powder

Know density of powder

As you know density varies from powder to powder. To find their density is necessary. Reason? To know how much can it fit in a capsule. Generally, weight is measured in g/ml or in gm/ml. By understanding weight (a density), you can guess how much space can it covers. A high density takes less space while less density takes more space.

Match the weight of powder with capsule volume

Match the weight of powder with capsule volume

Different capsule size has different volume. After finding weight of powder, now match it with volume of capsule size that does it compatible with volume or not?

Capsule size and filling equipment

While choosing capsule size, the other factor you need to consider is filling equipment. Different size capsule may require different machine, while some machine handle only few sizes capsule. Before choosing capsule size, check whether filling equipment handle the desire size capsule or not.

Capsule size and swallowing

Capsule size and swallowing

Large size capsules such as 000 and 00 are difficult to swallow and hold more powder while small size capsules such as 1, 2 and so on to 5 are easy to swallow and ideal for kids, elders and people with swallowing problem. These hold less dosage. Hence, choose wisely the capsule size according to your ease.

Conclusion

To conclude the guide, it must be noted that there are different sizes of capsules available in market. Each has different holding capacity, volumes, and weight or grams fit in them. So, choose wisely the capsule size after checking the density of powder. Different powders have varied weight because each are different in size, shape, moisture content and compressibility. If you are looking for buying a capsule, we have different size of capsule.