title: Viscoelastic behavior of maize kernel studied by dynamic mechanical analyzer.
abstract: The creep recovery, stress relaxation, temperature-dependence and their frequency-dependence of maize kernel were determined within a moisture content range of 11.9% to 25.9% (w/w) by using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. The 4-element Burgers model was found to adequately represent the creep behavior of the maize seeds (R(2)>0.97). The 5-element Maxwell model was able to better predict the stress relaxation behavior of maize kernel than the 3-element Maxwell model. The Tg values for the maize kernels decreased with increased moisture content. For example, the Tg values were 114 °C and 65 °C at moisture content values of 11.9% (w/w) and 25.9% (w/w), respectively. The magnitude of the loss moduli and loss tangent and their rate of change with frequency were highest at 20.7% and lowest at 11.9% moisture contents. The maize kernel structure exhibited A-type crystalline pattern and the microstructure was found to expand with increase in moisture content.
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering, National Energy R & D Center for Non-food Biomass, China Agricultural University, PO Box 50, 17 Qinghua Donglu, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Yang
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering, National Energy R & D Center for Non-food Biomass, China Agricultural University, PO Box 50, 17 Qinghua Donglu, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: dongli@cau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering, National Energy R & D Center for Non-food Biomass, China Agricultural University, PO Box 50, 17 Qinghua Donglu, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Huai
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, City Campus, Melbourne 3001, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Benu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adhikari
keywords: Creep; Crystalline pattern; Maize kernel; Morphology; Stress relaxation; Viscoelastic behavior