Tablet Hardness Tester (Breaking Force Tester)
Measures the force needed to break a tablet by squeezing it between two jaws. Used to control compression and to make sure tablets are strong enough to survive coating, packing and handling.
- Pharmaceutical
- Nutraceuticals
- Confectionery and food tablets
- Veterinary medicines
Test your Hardness tester knowledge
Multiple-choice questions
Pick an answer to see whether you are right and why.
Q1. The SI unit for tablet breaking force is the:
basicQ2. 1 kP is approximately equal to:
basicQ3. What is the main purpose of hardness testing during compression?
intermediateQ4. Ten tablets give 92, 88, 95, 90, 86, 94, 91, 89, 93 and 87 N. What is the average?
intermediateQ5. How is the force accuracy of a hardness tester calibrated?
intermediateQ6. Why can two tablets of the same formulation but different shapes not be compared directly by breaking force?
advanced
Viva questions
Think of your answer first, then open it to compare.
1. Why should tablets be placed in the same orientation every time?
Breaking force depends on the direction of loading, especially for scored, oval or shaped tablets. A consistent orientation gives comparable results.
2. What happens to a product if tablets are too hard or too soft?
Too soft: chipping, high friability, capping and breakage in coating or packing. Too hard: slower disintegration and dissolution, which can affect bioavailability.
3. Explain the difference between hardness and tensile strength.
Hardness (breaking force) is the force to break a tablet across its diameter. Tensile strength converts that force into a stress using the tablet's diameter and thickness, so it is a property of the compact rather than of one tablet shape.
Keep every Hardness tester in control: usage logs, calibration and maintenance schedules, and automatic blocking of overdue instruments.