A study has been undertaken to determine how the mean particle size of monomodal quartz particle beds and the bed preparation method affect initial and final bed apparent density and the kinetics of densification by tapping. The study was conducted on eight quartz particle size fractions obtained from a commercial quartz powder by sieving, each having a different mean particle size and a very narrow (monomodal) particle size distribution. The amplitude of the distribution and the particle shape were practically the same for all fractions. Densification experiments were conducted on the beds obtained with each fraction, using an assembly designed for this purpose. A kinetic model representing the densification process of monomodal powder beds by tapping is proposed, in which good relations are obtained between the parameters of the model and the foregoing variables. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.