In situ thermal decomposition of starch with constant moisture

This paper reports a DSC study of the thermal decomposition of starch kept at constant moisture content (0-50%) in a sealed system comprising a high-pressure stainless steel pan with a gold-plated copper seal. The advantage of this technique is that it facilitates the detection and study of the processes of thermal decomposition of starch with constant moisture content, which is a common scenario in the processing of thermoplastic starches. It was found that the decomposition temperature decreased with increasing water content, and that the peak in decomposition temperature broadened, which is different to the case observed in open, unsealed systems. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.