A model powder system comprising corn starch has been subjected to compaction agglomeration in presence of different binders like sugar (0-20%), pre-gelatinised starch (PGS) powder (0-20%) and vegetable oil (0-5%). The compacted masses are examined for density and different textural parameters (linear limit of deformation and modulus of deformability, and failure properties like failure stress/energy/strain) employing uniaxial compression. An increase in sugar and PGS markedly increases the failure stress, energy for failure and modulus of deformability while showing a reverse trend for oil added samples. The strain at failure increases with the addition of PGS and oil (6.9-14.5 and 6.9-24.4%, respectively) whereas marginal effect (6.9-8.1%) occurs with sugar. Compacted mass having 20% PGS behaves as the toughest sample. Cluster analysis among the textural parameters indicates a high similarity of 85% between failure stress and energy for failure. A mechanism of failure has been proposed for compacted mass during compression that has been supported by microstructures. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.