EXTRUDATE CELL STRUCTURE-TEXTURE RELATIONSHIPS

Com-based extrudates that ranged widely in mean cell size and density were produced by varying extrusion moisture and RPM and also by the addition of rice flour, citric acid, tricalcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, and gluten. Cell sizes were measured using an Olympus image analysis system and mechanical properties, including breaking stress and plateau stress values achieved during compression, were measured using an Instron. Breaking and plateau stresses were negatively dependent on mean cell size and positively dependent on density in pure corn samples but the form of the relationship was altered by the presence of additives in the extrudates.