Texture Analysis in Research: 3D printing Applications

At the University of Milan scientists have been researching 3D printed multi-compartment capsular devices for two-pulse oral drug delivery. 

The resistance to deformation of printed and moulded capsular devices was measured under compression using their TA.XTplus Texture Analyser.

This study helped to develop delivery methods for enhanced customisation of drug combinations. 

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Texture Analysis Latest Alternative Protein Applications

The meat substitutes market size is estimated to be worth 9.25 Billion USD by 2023.

Consuming meat for many is a part of their daily life, but the majority are opting for a healthy version by switching to non-meat foods for catering to their protein needs. 

Avoiding or restricting meat in the diet may be challenging, yet with the nutritional, environmental and health benefits of selecting meat substitutes over meat, this challenge will be worth the effort.

Why measure just one Texture Analysis parameter?

Apricots have a short storage life principally caused by a rapid softening, which increases the sensitivity of the fruit to mechanical damage, and to the development of fungal diseases.

The current methods to assess fruit firmness give limited information on the evolution and the mechanisms of softening. 

Texture Analysis in Research: Packaging Applications

Due to consumers now hating plastic, waste companies are being forced to find alternative solutions.

The holy grail of packaging development is now to present a recyclable, compostable, biodegradable and environmentally friendly solution which does not compromise on packaging integrity and desired performance.

Researchers from the National University of Trujillo have been investigating biodegradable foam trays based on starches isolated from different Peruvian species.

Texture Analysis in Action: Universal Sample Clamp

Universal Sample Clamp

When penetrating, extruding or cutting a sample during a test it is common that the sample sometimes needs to be held down manually in order to avoid it being lifted up with the withdrawing probe or fixture.  

The penetration of a margarine sample, the cutting of a piece of meat or the backward extrusion of a thick moisturising cream are typical examples when this may occur. 

The resulting measured forces of this occurrence will be displaying the weight of the material (and/or its supporting packaging) being lifted rather than the forces necessary to withdraw from the sample. If lifting of the sample occurs the graph that is obtained will not therefore reflect the entire true textural profile of the sample. 

Texture Analysis in Patents: Personal Care Applications

Stable Micro Systems Texture Analysers are used frequently in patent applications to substantiate claims and provide measured evidence associated with the developed product.  Here are a few recent examples within the field of Personal Care Products…

A patent has recently been released by Procter and Gamble, entitled ‘Skin Care Composition’.

It covers a personal care composition incorporating a dimethicone fluid for the cosmetic treatment of skin that provides an improved moisturisation signal to a user and exhibits good feel properties.

The researchers used their TA.XT2i Texture Analyser to perform a tack test on a film formed from the composition.

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Texture Analysis in Action: Vickers and Shore Hardness Probe

Vickers testing has been a very widely-used technique for many materials for decades due to simple data analysis and test preparation. 

Many applications demand a tip made from a very hard material such as diamond or sapphire, as the indenter must be significantly harder than the material under investigation. However, stainless steel is suitable for testing many softer materials such as tablets, soap, fruit and vegetables, cheese, chocolate and some polymers.

Traditionally, Vickers hardness is calculated by inputting the indentation diagonals into a standard formula. However, instrumented indentation on a Texture Analyser allows automatic hardness analysis without the use of a microscope. It also enables other parameters such as stress relaxation and elastic-plastic energy ratios to be calculated. 

Texture Analysis in Research: Edible Packaging

At the grocery store, most foods — meats, breads, cheeses, snacks — come wrapped in plastic packaging.

Not only does this create a lot of non-recyclable, non-biodegradable waste, but thin plastic films are not great at preventing spoilage – and some plastics are suspected of leaching potentially harmful compounds into food.

Current food packaging is mainly petroleum-based, which is not sustainable. It also does not degrade, creating tons of plastic waste that sits in landfills for years – an issue that is now weighing heavily on the minds of all consumers after recent documentaries. To address these issues, scientists are now developing a packaging film made of milk proteins — and it is even edible.