Texture analysis in action: Finding new ways to measure stickiness

Stickiness is a major consideration for manufacturers of certain products. Whilst stickiness can be a desired property for certain products it can also be an unattractive sensorial property that can be very off-putting for consumers. However, it is a simple property to measure and that is where a Texture Analyser comes in.

Recently in the lab we have been expanding the application of a rig that was originally designed for the measurement of nail polish adhesion. During the test, a channel 20cm long is filled with the sample to a depth of 0.5 mm and 5-10 adhesion tests are performed at points along this channel. The probe is held on the surface of the sample at 750g for 5 seconds to allow a bond to form between the probe and sample before withdrawing quickly and measuring the stickiness (the force to separate the two surfaces) and stringiness (the distance/time pulled away before separation occurs). The ability to prepare a sample and test it in several different regions along its length increases sample throughput – a particularly important factor in sample testing efficiency.