Application of differential scanning calorimetry in food research and food quality assurance

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is the most widely used thermal analytical technique in food research and it has a great utility in quality assurance of food. Proteins are the most studied food components by thermal analysis including studies on conformation changes of food proteins as affected by various environmental factors, thermal denaturation of tissue proteins, food enzymes and enzyme preparations for the food industry, as well as effects of various additives on their thermal properties. Freezing-induced denaturation of food proteins and the effect of cryoprotectants are also monitored by DSC. Polymer characterization based on DSC of polysaccharides, gelatinization behaviour of starches and interaction of starch with other food components can be determined, and phase transitions during baking processes can be studied by DSC. Studies on crystallization and melting behaviour of fats observed by DSC indicate changes in lipid composition or help characterizing products. Thermal oxidative decomposition of edible oils examined by DSC can be used for predicting oil stability. Using DSC in the freezing range has a great potential for measuring and modelling frozen food thermal properties, and to estimate the state of water in foods and food ingredients. Research in food microbiology utilizes DSC in better understanding thermoadaptive mechanisms or heat killing of food-borne microorganisms. Isothermic microcalorimetric techniques provide informative data regarding microbial growth and microbial metabolism.     

Radiation-induced copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and 3,3,4,4,5,5,5-heptafluoropentene-1 under pressure

An investigation was made of the γ-ray-induced copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and 3,3,4,4,5,5,5-heptafluoropentene-1. At 22°C at 5000 and 10 000 atm the polymerization rate changes little between 0 and 75 mole-% tetrafluoroethylene. Above 90 mole-% the rate increases greatly. Molecular weights vary with composition in a fashion similar to the variation of the rates. Crystallization occurs in the bulk pentene at 13 500 atm at 24°C. The polymerization rate is very low in the solid state. Under some conditions polymerization continues long after irradiation is ended. Both reactivity ratios favor the pentene. Several copolymer properties were studied. The polymers are amorphous and soluble in perfluoro ethers, perfluoro alkanes, and perfluoroaromatics if they contain less than 80% tetrafluoroethylene. The glass temperatures of the amorphous polymers decrease and the thermal and radiation stability increases as the tetrafluoroethylene content increases.     

Glass transition temperature of glucose, sucrose, and trehalose: an experimental and in silico study

Isothermal-isobaric molecular dynamics simulations are used to calculate the specific volume of models of different amorphous carbohydrates (glucose, sucrose, and trehalose) as a function of temperature. Plots of specific volume vs temperature exhibit a characteristic change in slope when the amorphous systems change from the glassy to the rubbery state. The intersection of the regression lines of data below (glassy state) and above (rubbery state) the change in slope provides the glass transition temperature (T(g)). These predicted glass transition temperatures are compared to experimental T(g) values as obtained from differential scanning calorimetry measurements. As expected, the predicted values are systematically higher than the experimental ones (about 12-34 K) as the cooling rates of the modeling methods are about a factor of 10(12) faster. Nevertheless, the calculated trend of T(g) values agrees exactly with the experimental trend: T(g)(glucose) < T(g)(sucrose) < T(g)(trehalose). Furthermore, the relative differences between the glass transition temperatures were also computed precisely, implying that atomistic molecular dynamics simulations can reproduce trends of T(g) values in amorphous carbohydrates with high quality.     

Polarized infrared spectra of poled aromatic polyamide films

In connection with ferroelectric behavior of aromatic polyamides poled at a high electric field, polarized infrared spectra were studied in poled films of crystalline and amorphous aromatic polyamides consisting of ring systems to elucidate the relation between the orientation of polar groups and the ferroelectric polarization. The infrared spectra revealed that the CO and N H bonds oriented preferably along the poling direction in both crystalline and amorphous polyamides. The crystallinity of the crystalline polyamide increased with poling. In the amorphous polyamide, strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding is closely related to the retention of ferroelectric polarization in the frozen state of molecular motions below the glass transition temperature. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 531–538, 1999     

Structure and properties of nanostructured films based on refractory compounds

The results of studies of the structure and physicochemical properties of nanostructured films based on refractory carbides, borides, and nitrides are generalized. The possibility to obtain diamond-level hardness values is considered. The thermal stability of the hardness and the nanostructure of the films is discussed. The phase diagrams of refractory compounds in the nanocrystalline state are considered. The results of high-temperature oxidation of nanocrystal-line and amorphous films are described.     

Glass-state amorphous salt solids formed by freeze-drying of amines and hydroxy carboxylic acids: effect of hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions

We studied effect of molecular interactions on the physical properties of binary freeze-dried solids and frozen aqueous solutions using model chemicals containing various functional groups (amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl). Thermal analysis of frozen solutions containing alkyl diamines and hydroxy di- or tricarboxylic acids showed thermal transitions (T(g)': glass transition of maximally freeze-concentrated phase) at temperatures higher than those of the individual solutes. A binary frozen solution containing 80 mM 1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane (single-solute T(g)'<-60 degrees C) and 120 mM citric acid (single-solute T(g)': -55.0 degrees C) made the transition at -30.8 degrees C. The molecular weight of the solutes had smaller effects on the transition temperatures of the frozen mixture component solutions. Lyophilization of some high T(g)' mixture frozen solutions (e.g., 1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane and citric acid) resulted in cake-structure amorphous solids with glass transition temperatures (T(g)) higher than those of the individual components. Networking of intense hydrogen-bondings and electrostatic interactions between the heterogeneous molecules through the multiple functional groups was suggested to reduce the component mobility in the amorphous freeze-concentrated phase and the freeze-dried solids. Controlling the interactions should be a key to optimizing the physical properties of multi-component amorphous freeze-dried pharmaceutical formulations.     

The role of mannitol in affecting the thermal transitions in carrot tissue

Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to observe thermal events in osmotically manipulated carrot. A glass transition of the concentrated amorphous solution (CAS), recrystallisation of water and ice melting were shown in the tissue by DMTA. DSC showed the role of mannitol as a plasticiser in freeze-dried osmotically manipulated carrot tissue, lowering the cell wall rich and sugar rich phase glass transitions. This cautions against the use of mannitol as an osmoticum for texture measurement since a decrease in stiffness could be due to shift towards a more rubbery state or a reduction of turgor. Processing treatments of air-drying-rehydrating, freezing-thawing or heating-cooling without prior osmotic treatment, induced consistently lower stiffness of carrot tissue compared to that of fresh specimens. The order of stiffness decrease was: fresh>drying-rehydrating∼heating-cooling>freezing-thawing. When osmotically manipulated carrot tissue was processed, stiffness decreased in comparison with osmotically treated specimens alone for molarities less than isotonic. Stiffness could not be restored further to any process events after osmotic changes, demonstrating the irreversible effect of processing on stiffness and contrary to some earlier reports that a prior decrease in turgor would enable the mechanical properties to be recovered.     

Amorphous fraction controlled mechanical and optical properties of polylactic acid below glass transition temperature

A negative relation between strength and crystallinity is observed in polylactic acid below glass transition temperature. Study indicates that entangled molecules in amorphous regions act as load bearing structures and are responsible for stress induced crazing. A three-phase model is proposed to explain how amorphous fraction changes with heat treatments and contributes to polymer modulus below glass transition temperature. Incorporation of carbon quantum dots into amorphous fraction dominated PLA creates a new type of luminescent composites that can be used for food labelling, tracking, packaging and production of origin.     

DSC analysis of the anti-HIV agent loviride as a preformulation tool in the development of hot-melt extrudates

Thermal analysis was performed on the anti-HIV agent loviride in order to test its suitability to be processed using hot-melt extrusion. Temperature characteristic parameters of crystallization were determined to quantify the stability of amorphous loviride. The present study has shown that cooling and heating loviride at different rates influenced its thermal stability. At high cooling rates melted loviride did not crystallize during cooling, and formed a glass that recrystallized during reheating. Very low cooling rates resulted in significant decomposition of the drug. The glass transition temperature was found to increase as a function of increasing heating rates and the activation energy for the transition from the glassy to the super-cooled liquid state was relatively high, indicating good stability of the glass. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rheological properties and phase behavior of a hydroxypropyl cellulose-poly(ethylene glycol) system

The relaxation and phase behavior of solutions of hydroxypropyl cellulose in poly(ethylene glycols) of various molecular masses has been studied by dynamic mechanical analysis. The dynamic mechanical data are compared with the results of microinterferometry and polarization-microscopy measurements. The combination of optical and mechanical characteristics makes it possible to construct generalized phase- relaxation diagrams for the binary systems under study. Solutions based on lowmolecular-mass poly(ethylene glycol) are characterized by LC equilibrium. With an increase in the molecular mass of poly(ethylene glycol) in a certain temperature-concentration region, amorphous phase separation takes place and the phase diagram is the superposition of LC and amorphous equilibria. The relaxation properties of the systems are sensitive to the phase state and its transformation.     

Quantification of drug amorphous fraction by DSC

The processes of production of drugs and dosage forms in the solid state often cause unwanted transformation of portions of the substances into amorphous state, with significant changes of properties such as stability and bio-availability. When this amorphous fraction is of the order of a few percent, it usually goes unnoticed, but it should be accurately determined within a quality control system. In this work, we consider a model drug, perphenazine, where partial amorphisation may be induced by standard mechanical treatments. We show that Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) leads to consistent estimations of the amorphous fractions induced by the treatment. Furthermore, DSC also yields the expected amounts of amorphous perphenazine when analysing known mixtures of perfectly crystalline samples (untreated) and partially amorphous samples (treated). We show that even amorphous fractions of the order of 1% are accurately estimated by our method.     

Spiro linked compounds for use as active materials in organic light emitting diodes

Spiro-linkage of low molecular weight entities as a new structural concept for the design of new active materials for electroluminescent applications is presented. These spiro linked compounds result in nonpolymeric organic glasses with high thermal stability as can be derived from their high glass transition temperatures (T_g), and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. Blue emitters based on spiro linked oligophenyles are presented. These compounds are soluble in common organic solvents and show high photoluminescence quantum efficiency in the solid state and high morphologic stability with glass transition temperatures up to 250°C. Charge transport materials based on spiro linked versions of 2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) for electron transport, and spiro linked versions of triphenyldiamin derivatives (TPD) for hole transport show improved morphologic properties with nearly unchanged electronic properties compared to the parent compounds. High quality amorphous films can be prepared with the spiro compounds by vapor deposition as well as by simple spin coating.     

Structural studies and polymorphism in amorphous solids and liquids at high pressure

When amorphous materials are compressed their structures are expected to change in response to densification. In some cases, the changes in amorphous structure can be discontinuous and they can even have the character of first-order phase transitions. This is a phenomenon referred to as polyamorphism. Most evidence for polyamorphic transitions between low and high density liquids or analogous transformations between amorphous forms of the same substance to date has been indirect and based on the changes in thermodynamic and other structure-related properties with pressure. Recent studies using advanced X-ray and neutron scattering methods combined with molecular dynamics simulations are now revealing the details of structural changes in polyamorphic systems as a function of pressure. Various "two state" or "two species" models are used to understand the anomalous densification behaviour of liquids with melting curve maxima or regions of negative melting slope. Thermodynamic analysis of the two state model leads to the possibility of low- to high-density liquid transitions caused by differences in bulk thermodynamic properties between different amorphous forms and on the degree of cooperativity between low- and high-density structural configurations. The potential occurrence of first-order transitions between supercooled liquids is identified as a critical-like phenomenon. In this tutorial review we discuss the background to polyamorphism, incorporating the experimental observations, simulation studies and the two-state models. We also describe work carried on several systems that are considered to be polyamorphic.     

The state of high global chain orientation but nearly random segmental orientation of amorphous polymers

In the rubbery state of amorphous polymers under uni-axial drawing the global chain orientation will relax in orders of magnitude slower than the relaxation of local segmental orientation. When this state of hot drawn sample is frozen at temperatures lower than its glass transition, T_g, an amorphous state with high global chain orientation but nearly random segmental orientation (GOLR) could result. Experimentally the GOLR state of amorphous polymers is easily realized by uni-axial drawing the polymer at temperatures 20–30°C above its T_g. The characteristic features of a GOLR state are i) large recovery of the elastic deformation of global chain on being heated to temperatures above T_g, ii) very small birefringence and IR dichroism, iii) nearly isotropic sonic and ultrasonic velocity of propagation, iv) nearly isotropic WAXD pattern, while it shows v) pronounced anisotropy in stress-strain behavior for large deformations and vi) appreciable anisotropy of thermal conductivity and of microwave dielectric properties. Concrete examples with detailed experimental results will be reviewed.     

Thermodynamic analysis and purifying an amorphous phase of frozen crystallization centers

The possibility of dissolving frozen crystallization centers in amorphous alloys of the Fe–B system is considered by means of thermodynamic calculations. This can in turn improve the thermal stability of an amorphous alloy. The effect isothermal annealing has on the thermal stability of multicomponent amorphous alloys based on iron is investigated via the highly sensitive dilatometric technique, measurements of microsolidity, and electron microscopic investigations. The annealing temperature is determined empirically on the basis of the theses of the thermodynamic theory of the high temperature stability of multicomponent amorphous alloys, according to which there exists a range of temperatures that is characterized by a negative difference between the chemical potentials of phases in a heterogeneous amorphous matrix–frozen crystallization centers system. The thermodynamic condition of the possible dissolution of frozen crystallization centers is thus met. It is shown that introducing regimes of thermal processing allows us to expand the ranges of the thermal stability of iron-based amorphous alloys by 20–40 K through purifying an amorphous matrix of frozen crystallization centers. This conclusion is proved via electron microscopic investigations.     

On the Adam-Gibbs-Kirkpatrick-Thirumalai-Wolynes scenario for the viscosity increase in glasses

We reformulate the interpretation of the mean-field glass transition scenario for finite dimensional systems, proposed by Kirkpatrick, Thirumalai, and Wolynes (KTW). This allows us to establish clearly a temperature dependent length xi( *) above which the mean-field glass transition picture has to be modified. We argue in favor of the mosaic state introduced by KTW, which leads to the Adam-Gibbs relation between the viscosity and configurational entropy of glass forming liquids. Our argument is a mixture of thermodynamics and kinetics, partly inspired by the random energy model: small clusters of particles are thermodynamically frozen in low energy states, whereas large clusters are kinetically frozen by large activation energies. The relevant relaxation time is that of the smallest "liquid" clusters. Some physical consequences are discussed.     

Colloidal systems with a short-range attraction and long-range repulsion: Phase diagrams,structures, and dynamics

Colloidal systems with both a short-range attraction and long-range repulsion (SALR) have rich phases compared with the traditional hard sphere systems or sticky hard sphere systems. The competition between the short-range attraction and long-range repulsion results in the frustrated phase separation, which leads to the formation of intermediate range order (IRO) structures and introduces new phases to both equilibrium and nonequilibrium phase diagrams, such as clustered fluid, cluster percolated fluid, Wigner glass, and cluster glass. One hallmark feature of many SALR systems is the appearance of the IRO peak in the interparticle structure factor, which is associated with different types of IRO structures. The relationship between the IRO peak and the clustered fluid state has been careful investigated. Not surprisingly, the morphology of clusters in solutions can be affected and controlled by the SALR potential. And the effect of the SALR potential on the dynamic properties is also reviewed here. Even though much progress has been made in understanding SALR systems, many future works are still needed to have quantitative comparisons between experiments and simulations/theories and understand the differences from different experimental systems. Owing to the large parameter space available for SALR systems, many exciting features of SALR systems are not fully explored yet. Because proteins in low-salinity solutions have SALR interactions, the understanding of SALR systems can greatly help understand protein behavior in concentrated solutions or crowded conditions.     

A review of silver nanoparticles in food packaging technologies: Regulation,methods, properties,migration, and future challenges

The development of antimicrobial food packaging is needed for food preservation and quality maintenance. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used as an antimicrobial agent in food packaging technologies. However, the risks associated with their potential migration into foods are a major concern. This paper comprehensively reviews the use of AgNPs in food packaging technologies. The application of AgNPs in food packaging technologies has been regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority. The addition of AgNPs into food packaging can improve their barrier, mechanical, and antibacterial properties, as well as maintain the quality of foods. Migration of AgNPs from food packaging into foods is still a concern as it has implications for human health associated with their toxicity properties. A study on the toxicological properties of AgNPs released from food packaging needs to be carried out intensively to ensure their safety before being widely implemented. Moreover, comprehensive economic evaluation to implement AgNPs in food packaging is needed as such a study is missing in the literature.     

Heat Capacities and Thermal Properties of a Homogeneous Ethylene-1-octene Copolymer by Adiabatic Calorimetry

Specific heat capacities of a homogeneous ethylene-1-octene copolymer were measured by adiabatic calorimetry in the temperature range from 5 to 400 K (stepwise heating at averaged rates of approximately 1 to 34 K h^–1, after cooling at rates in the range from 8 K h^–1 to 4 K min^–1). The glass transition takes place from roughly 205 to225 K and is centred around approximately 215 K. At the latter temperature, also the temperature drifts during the stabilisation periods are at maximum. Clearly, with devitrification above 215 K also melting sets in. Using two sets of reference data (one for branched and linear polyethylenes, BPE, and the other for strictly linear polyethylene, LPE)for completely crystalline and for completely amorphous material, the crystallinity of the polymer was calculated as a function of temperature, within the two-phase model. In heating, the crystallinity decreased from 0.254 to zero in the temperature range from 220 to 360 K, confirming earlier DSC heat capacity measurements. During the stabilisation periods, below325 K, negative drifts were observed, related to endothermic effects caused by melting. However, in the temperature range from 325 K up to the end melting temperature, 360 K, positive drifts were measured, reflecting exothermic effects. These are attributed to recrystallisation phenomena. The occurrence and amount of recrystallisation depend on the thermal history of the sample: slower cooling and a longer time spent at a temperature of annealing clearly diminish recrystallisation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.