TEXTURE ANALYSIS FOR SEMISOLIDS

A Texture Analyser is a texture measurement system that moves in either an up or down

direction to compress or stretch a sample.

The travelling arm is fitted with a load cell and records the force response of the sample to
the deformation that is imposed on it. Force, Distance and Time data is collected and usually
presented as a curve on a graph which, when analysed, indicates the texture of the sample.
Texture Analysers provide the operators with ultimate control and test flexibility for
measuring all types of physical/textural properties of solid and semi-solid systems by their
ability to accommodate a wide range of probes and fixtures that can be attached to the
Texture Analyser base and/or arm.

Properties that can be analysed:

 Firmness
 Stickiness
 Work of adhesion
 Hardness
 Compressibility
 Adhesiveness
 Cohesiveness
 Elasticity
Example graph and data

Firmness
The peak or maximum force is taken as a measurement of firmness, the higher the value, the
more firm is the sample
Stickiness
The maximum negative force is taken as an indication of the stickiness/cohesiveness of the
sample. The more negative the value the more 'sticky' or 'cohesive' is the sample.
Work of adhesion
Area of the negative region of the curve is often referred to as work of adhesion/viscosity.
Higher is the value, more resistant to withdrawal is the sample, which is an indication of
resistance to flow/viscosity of the sample
Hardness is defined as the force required to attain a given deformation or as the maximum
peak force during the first compression cycle.
Compressibility defines the work required to deform the product during the first
compression of probe.
Adhesiveness is defined as the negative force area for the first compression cycle and
represents the work required to overcome the attractive forces between the surface of the gel
and the surface of the probe.
Cohesiveness defines the ratio of the area under the force-time curve produced on the second
compression cycle to that produced on the first compression cycle, where successive
compressions are separated by a defined recovery period.
Elasticity defines the ratio of the time required to achieve maximum structural deformation
on the second compression cycle to that on the first compression cycle, where successive
compressions are separated by a defined recovery period.