shown in fig2 a the assembly is placed in communication with a tared 12 sieve under the 12 sieve is placed a blank a sieve with the screen removed to accommodate the volume of sample used a tared 16 sieve is placed under the blank and in turn is followed by a second blank a tared 30 sieve and a tared 325 sieve typically no blank is required between the 30 and 325 sieves as the sample volume has been sufficiently reduced by retention on previous screens the entire sieve pack is then placed on a suitable receptacle which can receive any particles passing through the last sieve as well as allow the flow of air therethrough fig3 shows a top view of such a receptacle having an aperture 20 through which air and particles can pass the assembly sits on a portion of surface 22 but does not cover holes 24 holes 24 allow air passing into the receptacle from the assembly to escape a suitable sample is weighed a suitable anti static agent such as a solution of 80 propanol and 20 silicone glycol can be added to the sample to reduce the static electricity of the lightweight expanded polymer that would otherwise build as a result of the constant agitation of the polymer it is believed that the solution forms a thin layer on the particles without causing any detrimental particle deformation the agitator cap is removed from the sieve pack inverted and the conical portion 5 is filled with.