| 摘要 |
Methods of controlling the bulk density, permeability, moisture retention and thermal properties of bulk materials are provided by selectively sizing the bulk material. Preferably, the bulk material is sized into a bi-modal size distribution to control these properties. Methods of decreasing the density of bulk materials are also provided. In one embodiment the bulk material is separated into a first fraction and a second fraction, the second fraction being smaller than the first. Subsequently, the second fraction is separated into a third fraction and a fourth fraction, the fourth fraction being smaller than the third. The third fraction is then comminuted to be the same size as the fourth fraction, at which point the first, third, and fourth fractions are finally mixed to produce a densified bulk material. The claimed method takes advantage of the tendency of intermediately sized particles to push larger particles of a mixture apart, while smaller particles merely fill in the voids between the larger particles.
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