Compaction agglomeration of corn starch in presence of different binders Original Research Article

A model powder system comprising corn starch has been subjected to compaction agglomeration in presence of different binders like sugar (0–20%), pre-gelatinised starch (PGS) powder (0–20%) and vegetable oil (0–5%). The compacted masses are examined for density and different textural parameters (linear limit of deformation and modulus of deformability, and failure properties like failure stress/energy/strain) employing uniaxial compression. An increase in sugar and PGS markedly increases the failure stress, energy for failure and modulus of deformability while showing a reverse trend for oil added samples. The strain at failure increases with the addition of PGS and oil (6.9–14.5 and 6.9–24.4%, respectively) whereas marginal effect (6.9–8.1%) occurs with sugar. Compacted mass having 20% PGS behaves as the toughest sample. Cluster analysis among the textural parameters indicates a high similarity of 85% between failure stress and energy for failure. A mechanism of failure has been proposed for compacted mass during compression that has been supported by microstructures.