Many industrial and food powders were studied for rheolog. properties by using a powder rheometer. The shear strength of poly(vinyl chloride) (75-150 mu m), modified limestones (36-100 mu m) and millet groats (0.25-0.5 mm) powder beds decreased with increasing the moisture content (up to 20%), while the flowability of the beds increased. The surface modification of the limestone powder resulted in an increase in the bed flowability.