What Is Tablet Friability Testing and Why Does It Matter?

Introduction

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, ensuring the mechanical durability of tablets is critical. Tablets must survive processes like coating, packaging, shipping, and patient handling — all without cracking or losing active material. This is where tablet friability testing becomes essential.

What Is Tablet Friability Testing?

Tablet friability testing is a laboratory procedure used to evaluate a tablet’s ability to resist chipping, abrasion, or breakage during mechanical stress. The test involves tumbling a defined number of tablets in a rotating drum (called a friabilator) and measuring the percentage of weight lost due to surface erosion.

This test is described under USP <1216> and Ph. Eur. 2.9.7, and is a mandatory part of the quality control (QC) process for uncoated and coated tablets.

How Does Friability Testing Work?

1. Initial Weighing: Select a sample (typically 10–20 tablets) and record the total weight.
2. Drum Rotation: Place the tablets in the friability tester drum and rotate them at 25 rpm for 4 minutes (100 revolutions total).
3. Final Weighing: Remove the tablets, clean off dust, and weigh them again.
4. Calculation:
   Percent Loss = (Initial Weight - Final Weight) / Initial Weight × 100%

According to USP guidelines, the acceptable friability loss should not exceed 1.0% for most tablet types.

Why Does Friability Matter in Pharmaceuticals?

• Surface chipping during packaging or shipping
• Active ingredient loss leading to dose variation
• Shortened shelf-life and poor patient experience

For high-speed production lines and international logistics, minimizing friability ensures consistent drug delivery and compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

Key Factors That Influence Friability Results

• Tablet hardness & compression force
• Binder type and concentration
• Drying conditions
• Shape and size of tablets
• Testing humidity and drum smoothness

HUANGHAI Friability Testing Solutions

• Consistent 25 rpm drum speed
• Dual drum options for parallel testing
• Microbalance integration for precise weight measurements
• Touchscreen controls and programmable test cycles

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Conclusion

Tablet friability testing is more than a routine QC step — it’s a safeguard for product integrity and patient safety. By choosing the right testing system and understanding critical variables, pharmaceutical manufacturers can ensure consistent quality from factory to pharmacy.