Structure of maltodextrin gels — a small angle X-ray scattering study

The structure of maltodextrin gels was investigated by small angle X-ray scattering. The inhomogeneities in the maltodextrin gels are molecular aggregates with maximum dimensions of almost 300 nm. Their shape can be approximated by oblate ellipsoids of revolution with an axial ratio of 0.1. The radius of gyration of the aggregates amounts to about 90 nm. For this reason in the nomenclature of Papkov the gels are polymer gels of the 2^nd type. The melting of these aggregates is measured by SAXS with a position sensitive detector in the range near 56 °C.