Compact, uniform packing, of the chromatographic column with the stationary phase is important since it affects the column plate number. When using high pressures with a specific column, the stationary phase should not collapse mechanically (and should not change its volume). Most commonly, the stationary phase is packed in the column as a slurry in a specially selected liquid that allows the formation of a homogeneous suspension of the stationary phase and hinders the particle aggregation by a good solvent.