Showing papers on "Rheometer published in 2009"

Dynamic jamming point for shear thickening suspensions.

Abstract: We report on rheometry measurements to characterize the critical behavior in two model shear thickening suspensions: cornstarch in water and glass spheres in oil. The slope of the shear thickening part of the viscosity curve is found to increase dramatically with packing fraction and diverge at a critical packing fraction phi(c). The magnitude of the viscosity and the yield stress are also found to have scalings that diverge at phi(c). We observe shear thickening as long as the yield stress is less than the stress at the viscosity maximum. Above this point the suspensions transition to purely shear thinning. Based on these data we present a dynamic jamming phase diagram for suspensions and show that a limiting case of shear thickening corresponds to a jammed state.

Origin of apparent viscosity in yield stress fluids below yielding

Abstract: For more than 20 years it has been debated if yield stress fluids are solid below the yield stress or actually flow; whether true yield stress fluids exist or not. Advocates of the true yield stress picture have demonstrated that the effective viscosity increases very rapidly as the stress is decreased towards the yield stress. Opponents have shown that this viscosity increase levels off, and that the material behaves as a Newtonian fluid of very high viscosity below the yield stress. In this paper, we demonstrate experimentally (on four different materials, using three different rheometers, five different geometries, and two different measurement methods) that the low-stress Newtonian viscosity is an artifact that arises in non–steady-state experiments. For measurements as long as 104 seconds we find that the value of the "Newtonian viscosity" increases indefinitely. This proves that the yield stress exists and marks a sharp transition between flowing states and states where the steady-state viscosity is infinite —a solid!

Response of a concentrated monoclonal antibody formulation to high shear.

Abstract: There is concern that shear could cause protein unfolding or aggregation during commercial biopharmaceutical production. In this work we exposed two concentrated immunoglobulin-G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody (mAb, at >100 mg/mL) formulations to shear rates of between 20,000 and 250,000 s-1 for between 5 minutes and 30 ms using a parallel-plate and capillary rheometer respectively. The maximum shear and force exposures were far in excess of those expected during normal processing operations (20,000 s-1 and 0.06 pN respectively). We used multiple characterization techniques to determine if there was any detectable aggregation. We found that shear alone did not cause aggregation, but that prolonged exposure to shear in the stainless steel parallel-plate rheometer caused a very minor reversible aggregation (<0.3%). Additionally, shear did not alter aggregate populations in formulations containing 17% preformed heat-induced aggregates of a mAb. We calculate that that the forces applied to a protein by production shear exposures (<0.06 pN) are small when compared with the 140 pN force expected at the air-water interface or the 20 to 150 pN forces required to mechanically unfold proteins described in the atomic force microscope (AFM) literature. Therefore, we suggest that in many cases air-bubble entrainment, adsorption to solid surfaces (with possible shear synergy), contamination by particulates, or pump cavitation stresses could be much more important causes of aggregation than shear exposure during production.

Flexible microfluidic device for mechanical property characterization of soft viscoelastic solids such as bacterial biofilms

Abstract: We introduce a flexible microfluidic device to characterize the mechanical properties of soft viscoelastic solids such as bacterial biofilms. In the device, stress is imposed on a test specimen by the application of a fixed pressure to a thin, flexible poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) membrane that is in contact with the specimen. The stress is applied by pressurizing a microfabricated air channel located above the test area. The strain resulting from the applied stress is quantified by measuring the membrane deflection with a confocal laser scanning microscope. The deflection is governed by the viscoelastic properties of the PDMS membrane and of the test specimen. The relative contributions of the membrane and test material to the measured deformation are quantified by comparing a finite element analysis with an independent (control) measurement of the PDMS membrane mechanical properties. The flexible microfluidic rheometer was used to characterize both the steady-state elastic modulus and the transient strain recoil of two soft materials: gellan gums and bacterial biofilms. The measured linear elastic moduli and viscoelastic relaxation times of gellan gum solutions were in good agreement with the results of conventional mechanical rheometry. The linear Young's moduli of biofilms of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which could not be measured using conventional methods, were found to be 3.2 and 1.1 kPa, respectively, and the relaxation time of the S. epidermidis biofilm was 13.8 s. Additionally, strain hardening was observed in all the biofilms studied. Finally, design parameters and detection limits of the method show that the device is capable of characterizing soft viscoelastic solids with elastic moduli in the range of 102-105 Pa. The flexible microfluidic rheometer addresses the need for mechanical property characterization of soft viscoelastic solids common in fields such as biomaterials, food, and consumer products. It requires only 200 pL of the test specimen.

Magnetorheology of fiber suspensions. I. Experimental

Abstract: This work reports a detailed study on the shear magnetorheology of suspensions of magnetic microfibers. The steady-state regime was investigated using a controlled-stress rheometer for different concentrations of particles and under the presence of a broad range of applied magnetic fields (up to 512kAm−1). The results were compared with those obtained for conventional magnetorheological fluids (suspensions of magnetic microspheres). It was found that the suspensions of magnetic fibers show an enhanced magnetorheological effect. We proposed the existence of field-dependent solid friction between fibers as the main physical reason for this enhancement. In order to ascertain the relevance of the interfiber solid friction, the microscopic structure of fiber suspensions was investigated using an optical microscope. In the absence of applied field, fibers form an entangled network with approximately isotropic orientation. Upon magnetic field application, the fiber network becomes deformed and approximately alig...

The effect of step-stretch parameters on capillary breakup extensional rheology (CaBER) measurements

Abstract: Extensional rheometry has only recently been developed into a commercially available tool with the introduction of the capillary breakup extensional rheometer (CaBER). CaBER is currently being used to measure the transient extensional viscosity evolution of mid to low-viscosity viscoelastic fluids. The elegance of capillary breakup extensional experiments lies in the simplicity of the procedure. An initial step-stretch is applied to generate a fluid filament. What follows is a self-driven uniaxial extensional flow in which surface tension is balanced by the extensional stresses resulting from the capillary thinning of the liquid bridge. In this paper, we describe the results from a series of experiments in which the step-stretch parameters of final length, and the extension rate of the stretch were varied and their effects on the measured extensional viscosity and extensional relaxation time were recorded. To focus on the parameter effects, well-characterized surfactant wormlike micelle solutions, polymer solutions, and immiscible polymer blends were used to include a range of characteristic relaxation times and morphologies. Our experimental results demonstrate a strong dependence of extensional rheology on step-stretch conditions for both wormlike micelle solutions and immiscible polymer blends. Both the extensional viscosity and extensional relaxation time of the wormlike micelle solutions were found to decrease with increasing extension rate and strain of the step-stretch. For the case of the immiscible polymer blends, fast step-stretches were found to result in droplet deformation and an overshoot in the extensional viscosity which increased with increasing strain rates. Conversely, the polymer solutions tested were found to be insensitive to step-stretch parameters. In addition, numerical simulations were performed using the appropriate constitutive models to assist in both the interpretation of the CaBER results and the optimization of the experimental protocol. From our results, it is clear that any rheological results obtained using the CaBER technique must be properly considered in the context of the stretch parameters and the effects that preconditioning has on viscoelastic fluids.

Polysorbate 20 prevents the precipitation of a monoclonal antibody during shear.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are widely used as therapeutic proteins and they are frequently exposed to a high degree of stress during manufacturing or delivery. MAbs shear thin upon increasing shear rates. After undergoing multiple shear cycles, with a cone-and-plate rheometer, the solution viscosity of high concentration antibodies increases due to the formation of insoluble aggregates. These shear-induced insoluble aggregates do not form when polysorbate 20 is present in solution. We hypothesize that monoclonal antibodies form a thin protein layer at the air-water interface. MAbs at the interface expose their hydrophobic core to air leading to unfolding, multiple non-specific intermolecular interactions and, upon continuous high shear, precipitation. Surface tension analysis confirms that monoclonal antibodies are surface active and that polysorbate 20 can prevent their interaction with the air-water interface. In addition, we complement these findings with a viscometer that measures bulk viscosity wit...

Polymer-polymer interfacial slip in multilayered films

Abstract: Significant slip can occur in the flow of a blend of two immiscible polymers due to reduced entanglements at their interface. The slip is of practical importance because of its effect on morphology and adhesion in, for example, disordered two-phase blends or multilayer films. Interfacial slip was quantified using two polymer pairs each with closely matched viscosity and elasticity but different miscibility (χ): polypropylene (PP)/polystyrene (PS) χ=0.04 and polyethylene (PE)/fluoropolymer (FP) χ≅0.1. To control the amount of interfacial area, we prepared alternating layers by coextrusion. The number of layers of PP/PS ranged from 20 to 640 while that for PE/FP was 80. Nominal viscosity of the multilayer samples was measured with three types of rheometers: an in-line slit-die rheometer, rotational parallel-disks, and sliding plate. Good agreement was found between the three methods. The nominal viscosity as well as shear normal stresses of the multilayer samples decreased with the number of layers. From th...

Magneto-rheological fluid behavior in squeeze mode

Abstract: Little published data exists on the behavior of MR fluids in squeeze mode Many of the basic properties of MR fluids in squeeze mode are still unknown In squeeze mode, MR fluids can generate a large range of force associated with a small displacement As a result, squeeze mode has recently received more attention This research focuses on modeling and testing MR fluids in squeeze mode A novel squeeze mode rheometer is designed and built MR fluid is tested in squeeze mode to evaluate its performance and behavior The rheometer can test MR fluid under different conditions (gap size, magnetic field density, speed, etc) It utilizes a Gauss meter for direct measurement of the magnetic field density MR fluid squeeze test results show that MR fluid can deliver a large range of force that is comparable in magnitude to the force in shear mode The tests also indicate a clumping effect of the fluid when tested in repeated cycles that does not appear to have been documented previously This paper describes, in detail, the clumping effect and provides possible reasons for this phenomenon A non-dimensional mathematical model is developed and validated experimentally The non-dimensional model directly compares the squeeze mode force to the shear mode force The results indicate that MR fluid in squeeze mode can be used in many applications requiring a large range of controllable force in envelopes that can only accommodate small strokes

Rheology of concentrated granular suspensions and possible implications for debris flow modeling

Abstract: [1] Granular suspensions are of major relevance for many geophysical flows. We investigated the rheological behavior of three samples taken from a debris flow deposit at varying solid concentration (from 38.0 to 54.2% by volume) and grain size distribution. Experiments were performed first on the fraction finer than 0.075 mm and then on suspensions with fine sand (up to 0.425 mm in size and percentages varying from 10 to 50%). A vane apparatus connected to a rotational rheometer was used, and experiments showed a reproducibility within ±12%. Results were processed by the Tikhonov regularization method in order to convert the shear stress (τ) versus rotation velocity (ω) curves to shear stress (τ) versus shear rate () flow curves. At shear rates lower than 3–5 s−1, shear stress is rate-independent. At higher shear rates, the shear stress increases depending on the maximum grain particles included within the suspension. We used the Herschel-Bulkley and Bingham models to describe the monotonous increase of the flow curves. Varying the grain size distribution of the samples, the power and consistency indexes range within 0.75–1.35 and 0.44–40.8 Pa s−n, where n is the exponent of ; the viscosity coefficient varies from 1.0 to 47.2 Pa s; and the shear stress varies from 28 to 1959 Pa. For materials mainly composed of silt and clay with a variable sand content, (1) an increase in the particle size changes the rheological behavior from shear thinning to shear thickening, and (2) the percentage of sand affects both the frictional character of the flow and the magnitude of the rheological parameters.

Links Between Ink Rheology, Drop-on-Demand Jet Formation, and Printability

Abstract: This article links measurements of ink jetting perfor- mance in drop-on-demand printing with the high-frequency rheologi- cal properties of model viscoelastic fluids containing linear polymers with various molecular weights. Jet formation and evolution were studied for solutions of polystyrene in diethyl phthalate. Ligament length, initial jet ejection speeds, and ligament extension and retrac- tion rates were determined by high-resolution imaging with high time resolution. For these fluids, the viscosity measured under low shear- rate conditions showed no correlation with their jetting performance. The jetting behavior was, however, well correlated with high fre- quency rheological properties measured at 5 kHz using a piezoelec- tric axial vibrator rheometer. This study shows that high frequency rheometry can provide useful predictive data about the jettability of fluids, and differentiate between inks that have similar low shear- rate viscosity yet show different jetting behavior. A phenomenologi- cal model has been proposed and fitted to the evolution of the av- erage ligament length from emergence, through break-up and into the final state of unmerged drops and associated satellites in order to help discuss the influence of viscoelastic behavior on the fixed speed drop-on-demand jetting and printability of fluids. The values of the parameters of this model obtained from the fitting are shown to have a consistent correlation with the rheological properties of the jetted fluids. © 2009 Society for Imaging Science and Technology. DOI: 10.2352/J.ImagingSci.Technol.2009.53.4.041208

Multiscale Prediction of Viscoelastic Properties of Asphalt Concrete

Abstract: The low viscosity of asphalt concrete at T>135°C is necessary for the construction and compaction process of high-quality asphalt concrete layers. Whereas the continuous increase of viscosity with decreasing temperature is desirable for the reduction of permanent deformations during warm periods, so-called top-down cracking may occur in the course of temperature drops during cold periods. In order to explain the complex viscoelastic properties of asphalt concrete, a multiscale model is proposed. Hereby, the viscoelastic behavior of bitumen serves as input and the effect of air voids and aggregates is investigated. The viscous properties of bitumen are identified, using the bending-beam rheometer and the dynamic-shear rheometer, providing access to the viscoelastic material response for different temperature and loading regimes. With the rheological properties of bitumen at hand, the viscoelastic properties of mastic, mortar, and asphalt concrete are determined using continuum micromechanics, employing the...

Microstructure and shear rheology of entangled wormlike micelles in solution

Abstract: The shear rheology of a model wormlike micellar solution exhibits moderate shear thinning and curved flow velocity profiles without discontinuity (nonbanding case). The shear rheology and the flow kinematics are analyzed within the framework of the Giesekus constitutive equation. Macroscopically, the steady state flow curve of the solution exhibits shear thinning with a shear exponent <1 without hysteresis, indicative of a sample that does not shear band. The microstructure of the micellar network is probed by the combination of dynamic rheology, rheo-optics, and SANS. Flow kinematics in a Couette geometry are measured by particle tracking velocimetry and found to be consistent with predictions of the Giesekus constitutive equation fit to the bulk shear rheology. 1-2 plane SANS measurements of the segmental alignment under shear are also found to be in agreement with predictions of the constitutive equation, providing a coherent picture of the mechanisms by which wormlike micelles flow and shear thin. The...

Linear Viscoelastic Properties of Bituminous Materials Including New Products Made with Ultrafine Particles

Abstract: An experimental campaign has been performed at the ENTPE laboratory in order to measure the linear viscoelastic properties (shear complex modulus G*) of mastics with a specifically developed device (annular shear rheometer). Different fillers have been used to design mastics, among which a new type of filler only composed of ultrafine particles. The use of these ultrafine particles induces a significant increase in the complex modulus of mastics at high temperature in comparison to mastics with classical fillers. The potential for reinforcement of fillers is quantified by the complex reinforcement coefficient RM* introduced in this paper. The ultrafine particles have also been used in bituminous mixtures. As it is observed for mastics, an important increase of the modulus is observed at high temperature for the mixtures made with ultrafine filler. Finally, simulations of the linear viscoelastic behaviour of bituminous materials with 2S2P1D model developed at the ENTPE are proposed. Simulations fi...

Extensional rheology of shear-thickening nanoparticle suspensions

Abstract: A filament-stretching rheometer is used to measure the extensional properties of shear-thickening nanoparticle suspensions as a function of concentration and extension rate. The experiments are performed using a series of colloidal suspensions consisting of concentrations of 17.5 wt%, 25 wt% and 30 wt% of fumed silica nanoparticles in polypropylene glycol. The shear rheology of these suspensions was found to demonstrate dynamic shear-thickening behavior owing to the formation of large hydrodynamic clusters. The critical value of angular frequency for the onset of shear-thickening was found to increase monotonically with decreased strain amplitude. The extensional rheology of all the tested suspensions demonstrated modest strain-hardening at low strain rates. At a critical extension rate, a dramatic increase in both the speed and magnitude of the strain-hardening is observed for both the 25 wt% and 30 wt% suspensions with increasing extensional rate. The steady state extensional viscosity as a function of extension rate shows sharp extensional thickening transition very similar to shear flows. The increase in strain-hardening is likely due to the formation of strings and clusters ordered in the flow direction. This hypothesis is confirmed by small-angle light scattering measurements of the flow of the nanoparticle suspension through a microfluidic hyperbolic contraction. The degree of alignment of nanoparticles is quantified from the analysis of the scattering patterns and found to increase significantly with increasing extension rate.

Exploring the transition from wall slip to bulk shearing banding in well-entangled DNA solutions

Abstract: In this study we have carried out a combination of rheometric and particle-tracking velocimetric (PTV) measurements to investigate nonlinear rheological behavior of three entangled DNA solutions (with ca. 150 entanglements per chain) and, in particular, to explore a transformation from slip-dominated steady-state flow to bulk shear inhomogeneity. In the stress plateau regime, an elastic recoil-like response occurs transiently at either interfaces or sample interior after stress overshoot during a startup shear. In both startup shear and creep mode, wall slip, bulk shear banding or a combination of both have been observed in both transient and steady states. The water-based solution shows massive wall slip allowing the bulk to remain in the Newtonian flow regime. Use of glycerol as a solvent can effectively reduce interfacial slip, permitting bulk shear banding to develop in both controlled-rate and controlled-stress modes. For the glycerol based solution, a sufficiently high Weissenberg number can attain in the rheometer where PTV observations reveal homogenous shear in steady state.

Comparison of rheological models for determining dark chocolate viscosity

Abstract: Parameters in chocolate rheology, namely shear viscosity and yield stress, are important in manufacture and directly influenced by product particle size distribution (PSD) and composition. The Casson model was the standard confectionery industry strategy to quantify rheological properties of molten chocolate until in 2000, the International Confectionery Association recommended the use of interpolation data to describe viscosity. The two strategies are compared and correlated in defining rheological properties of molten dark chocolates prepared using different PSD, fat and lecithin content. Rheological parameters were determined using a shear rate-controlled rheometer and data examined using correlation, regression and principal component analyses to establish their inter-relationships. Correlation and regression analyses showed high correlation (r = 0.89-1.00) and regression coefficients (R2 = 0.84-1.00). The newer International Confectionery Association technique gave higher correlation and regression coefficients than the Casson model, but multivariate principal component analysis showed that the two models were highly related and either could effectively quantify dark chocolate viscosity parameters.

Elongational and shear rheology of carbon nanotube suspensions

Abstract: Rheological behavior of concentrated suspensions of chemical vapor deposition carbon nanotubes in uniaxial elongation and simple shear is studied experimentally and theoretically. Nanotubes are suspended in viscous host liquids—castor oil or its blends with n-decane. The elongational measurements are performed by analyzing self-thinning (due to surface tension effect) liquid threads of nanotube suspensions. A quasi-one-dimensional model is used to describe the self-thinning process, whereas corrections accounting for thread nonuniformity and necking are introduced a posteriori. The effects of nanotube concentration and aspect ratio, viscosity of the suspending liquid, and initial diameter of the self-thinning thread in uniaxial elongation are elucidated. The results for uniaxial elongation are compared with those for simple shear. The correspondence in the results of the shear and elongational measurements is addressed and interpreted. The results conform to the Herschel–Bulkley rheological constitutive equation (i.e., power law fluids with yield stress). However, the yield stress in elongation is about 40% higher than in simple shear flow, which suggests that the original Herschel–Bulkley model need modification with the yield stress being a function of the second invariant of the deviatoric stress tensor. The present effort is the first to study capillary self-thinning of Herschel–Bulkley liquids, which are exemplified here by suspensions of carbon nanotubes.

Effect of shear on the rheology and crystallization of palm oil.

Abstract: UNLABELLED This article reports on the impact of shear on crystallization upon cooling of palm oil. Samples were cooled down under shear from 70 to 10 degrees C, then kept at this temperature, while performing rheological measurements using a controlled shear rate rheometer and rheo-optical observations using optical microscopy and small-angle light scattering. Shear rates between 1 and 300 s(-1) were investigated. Two crystallization steps were observed, characterized by associated viscosity increases. The effect of shear on these 2 crystallization processes was investigated. Shear was shown to influence almost all of the steps of the structuring process of the crystallizing palm oil. The spherulite size and growth rate during the 1st crystallization are affected by shear. The onset time of the 2nd crystallization process strongly depends on the extent of shear. The steady state structures after the 1st and 2nd crystallization processes constituted of a suspension of aggregates of spherulites are controlled by the applied shear rate. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The texture of crystallized vegetal fats and subsequent end product properties depend on the structure developed during the crystallization process. This structuring process is strongly influenced by the thermo-mechanical history applied to the product (cooling rate, degree of undercooling, annealing time, application of flow). This article shows how the shear rate as well as extent of shear affects the different steps of the crystallization and aggregation processes in the case of palm oil after the 1st crystallization.

Rheometry for large-particulated fluids: analysis of the ball measuring system and comparison to debris flow rheometry

Abstract: For large-particulated fluids encountered in natural debris flow, building materials, and sewage treatment, only a few rheometers exist that allow the determination of yield stress and viscosity. In the present investigation, we focus on the rheometrical analysis of the ball measuring system as a suitable tool to measure the rheology of particulated fluids up to grain sizes of 10 mm. The ball measuring system consists of a sphere that is dragged through a sample volume of approximately 0.5 l. Implemented in a standard rheometer, torques exerted on the sphere and the corresponding rotational speeds are recorded within a wide measuring range. In the second part of this investigation, six rheometric devices to determine flow curve and yield stress of fluids containing large particles with maximum grain sizes of 1 to 25 mm are compared, considering both rheological data and application in practical use. The large-scale rheometer of Coussot and Piau, the building material learning viscometer of Wallevik and Gjorv, and the ball measuring system were used for the flow curve determination and a capillary rheometer, the inclined plane test, and the slump test were used for the yield stress determination. For different coarse and concentrated sediment–water mixtures, the flow curves and the yield stresses agree well, except for the capillary rheometer, which exhibits much larger yield stress values. Differences are also noted in the measuring range of the different devices, as well as for the required sample volume that is crucial for application.

Preferential Media for Abrasive Flow Machining

Abstract: The abrasive flow machining (AFM) is used to deburr, radius, polish and remove recast layer of components in a wide range of applications. Material is removed from the workpiece by a flowing semisolid mass across the surface to be finished. In this study a medium for AFM has been developed from the various viscoelastic carriers and has been contrasted through experimental investigation. The viscoelastic media are selected on the basis of existing media through the studies of thermogravimetric analysis and are characterized by mechanical, as well as rheological, properties with the help of a universal testing machine and a rheometer. The performance of the medium is evaluated through the finishing criteria on a two-way AFM setup. The investigation reveals that the styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) medium gives a good improvement in surface finish. The surface improvement through SBR media is 88%. It is also found that the strain, temperature, shear rate, time of applied constant stress, cyclic loading, etc. have an impact on the mechanical and rheological properties of the newly developed medium, which are ultimately governed by the performance of the medium in the target applications.

Sensitivity analysis on a rheological model for the flowability of aerated fine powders

Abstract: A new model based on dynamic powder flow properties to predict the torque measured in the mechanically stirred fluid-bed rheometer (msFBR) is proposed. A Schulze shear cell was used to measure the powder flow properties. An inverse procedure to evaluate powder flow properties from torque data is proposed and verified with shear cell data.

High shear strain rate rheometry of polymer melts

Abstract: The rheology of a range of polymer melts has been measured at strain rates above those attained during conventional rheometry using an instrumented injection molding machine. Deviations from shear thinning behavior were observed at high rates, and previously unreported shear thickening behavior occurred for some of the polymers examined. Measured pressure and volumetric throughputs were used to calculate shear and extensional viscosity at wall shear strain rates up to 107 s−1. Parallel plate rheometry and twin bore capillary rheometry were used to provide comparative rheological data at low and medium shear strain rates, respectively. Commercial grades of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and PMMA were studied. Measured shear viscosity was found to follow Newtonian behavior at low rates and shear thinning power law behavior at intermediate strain rates. At shear strain rates approaching or above 106 s−1, shear viscosity reached a rate-independent plateau, and in some cases shear thickened with further increase in strain rate. A relationship between the measured high strain rate rheological behavior and molecular structure was noted, with polymers containing larger side groups reaching the rate-independent plateau at lower strain rates than those with simpler structures. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009

The effect of temperature on the rheology of butter, a spreadable blend and spreads

Abstract: The texture of lipid-based food materials is an important topic for investigation. In this study, the rheological properties of five edible fats were determined. A puncture test was performed to investigate the rheological properties of the food materials at 5C and at 19C using a texture analyzer. The force-displacement measurements were converted to stress–strain by assuming incompressibility of edible fat food materials in a linear viscoelastic region (LVR). Young's modulus of each edible fat was calculated using stress–stain curves in a LVR. Shear elastic moduli of edible fats in a LVR were obtained using a rheometer. Further to that the effect of temperature on storage modulus and loss modulus and creep test were obtained using a rheometer. The tests showed good correlation between Young's modulus and shear elastic modulus for each material. The mechanical properties correlated well with the structural properties of each of the materials. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The texture of butter, blends and spreads is determined by temperature, rheological properties, processing conditions and the composition of the material. Our research investigated the effect of temperature on the rheological properties of these foods. The results may be used to model the relationship between the microstructure and mechanical properties of the fat crystal network.