Various types of porous metal filters have been utilized for the fluidization of bulk powders, each type has its own strengths and weaknesses and all of them can be successful under various operating parameters. But, sintered wire cloth laminates are by far the most successful of the porous metallic fluidizing media. These materials can successfully fluidize powders under the most difficult operating conditions such as elevated temperatures and corrosive environments.

Fluidization of fine bulk solids is an effective way to handle solids in a contact bed manner where air or gas can be used for powder aeration either in a fully fluidized state (liquid-like properties) or only in a localized fashion with small amounts of gas flow. Powder fluidization is common with pulverized fuel handling, drying operations, and chemical reaction processes. The features and benefits of fluidizing powders are endless. From elimination or reduction of arching (bridging) of powders in hoppers to increased discharge rates from hoppers, silos to increased gas-solids interaction for drying and agglomerating.