The widespread use of powders in the pharmaceutical industry has led to a proliferation of test methods for measuring powder flow and density.

The new harmonised chapters in the Pharmacopoeias on Powder Flow (USP Chapter <1174> and Ph.Eur. 2.9.36) list four well defined methods for powder testing aimed at trying to bring about some degree of standardisation within the test methodology:

• Flow through an orifice
• Angle of Repose
• Shear Cell
• Compressibility Index and Hausner Ratio

  Read more: Introduction to Powder Testing