title: A study of water diffusion into a high-amylose starch blend: the effect of moisture content and temperature.
abstract: The effect of moisture content and temperature on water diffusion into a modified high amylose (< or = 90%) maize thermoplastic starch blend was investigated. Gravimetric and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were conducted to elucidate the diffusion mechanism and diffusion coefficients for this system. The diffusion coefficient data demonstrated that the rate of water diffusion into this blend was significantly dependent upon temperature and moisture content. Water diffusion was faster at higher temperatures and generally for samples stored at higher relative humidity environments. It was revealed from the gravimetric data that water diffusion into this starch blend was Fickian; however, further analysis of the MRI images found that the water diffusion mechanism was exponentially dependent on the concentration. This result was determined by comparing experimental water concentration profiles to a theoretical model calculated using the implicit Crank-Nicolson finite difference method.
authors.affiliation: The Centre for High Performance Polymers, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 4072. m.russo@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Melissa A L
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strounina
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waret
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Rowan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Truss
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Halley
mesh_terms: D000688:Amylose / Q000737:chemistry*; D002621:Chemistry / Q000379:methods; D004058:Diffusion; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D013213:Starch; D000688:Amylose