Medium-sized particles were manufactured by screening flakes via a disk mill to obtain
particles with a width of 2 to 3 mm, thickness of 0.5 mm, and length of 10 mm. Finesized
particles were obtained by reprocessing medium-sized particles in a hammer mill until they passed through a 10-mesh sieve. Wool or excelsior particles were made by
crosscutting the culms into two parts. Wooling was carried out on a wool or excelsiormaking
machine (Takekawa Iron Works®). Wool particle dimensions were 50 mm in
length, 0.2 to 0.5 mm in thickness, and 3 to 4 mm in width. All particles were then ovendried
at 70 to 80 °C for 2 days to a moisture content of about 10%.