Caking

Powdered substances that need to be stored, and flow smoothly at some time in the future, are often pelletized or made into pills.

[1] The caking process can involve electrostatic attractions or the formation of weak chemical bonds between particles.

Some anticaking agents function by absorbing excess moisture or by coating particles and making them water-repellent.

Calcium silicate (CaSiO3), a common anti-caking agent added to table salt, absorbs both water and oil.

Anticaking agents are also used in non-food items such as road salt,[3] fertilisers,[4] cosmetics,[5] synthetic detergents,[6] and in manufacturing applications.

Sample of calcium chloride , showing its tendency to cake.
The tendency of charcoal to cake is exploited in producing briquettes , which are more conveniently handled than loose charcoal.