Rheology Solutions range of equipment and technical literature

The microstructure of liquid foods has an important impact on its qualitative and quantitative quality attributes. This microstructure is a function of the physicochemical bonds and inter/intra-molecular associations between the ingredients in any recipe.

The microstructure impacts fundamentally on the flow characteristics of the material, for example, the viscosity and elasticity (analogous to the ‘liquid-like’ and ‘solid-like’ components of the material), which in turn dictate the heat and mass transfer (heating, pumping and mixing) requirements, so that the liquid is properly processed.

Viscosity and elasticity are rheological parameters and may be measured in the laboratory by viscometers and rheometers.

A second, equally important, impact from the microstructure is on the texture of the material. Textural qualities, like mouthfeel, spreadability etc, are intimately related to the rheology of the material. Over- or under-processing, eg, excessive (or insufficient) shear or heat, can adversely impact the texture.

Only by measuring indicators of texture - the rheological parameters - can these processing impacts be qualified and quantified. They can only be measured with high levels of accuracy, repeatability and certainty by a rigorously designed instrument (a rheometer or viscometer) with scientifically accepted measurement geometries (cone and plate, parallel plate, concentric cylinder).

Rheology Solutions offers a range of equipment and technical literature tailored to the food industries.