Differential scanning calorimetry study of glass transition in frozen starch gels

The effects of initial water content, maximum heating temperature, amylopectin crystallinity type, and annealing on the glass transition of starch gels were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The glass transition temperatures of the frozen gels measured as the onset (T(g,onset)) or midpoint temperature (T(g,midpoint)), heat capacity change during the glass transition (deltaC(p)), unfrozen water of starch gels, and additional unfrozen water (AUW) arising from gelatinization were reported. The results show that T(g,onset) and T(g,midpoint) of the partially gelatinized gels are independent of the initial water content, while both of the T(g) values of the fully gelatinized gel increase as the initial water content increases. These observations might result from the difference in the level of structural disruption associated with different heating conditions, resulting in different gel structures as well as different concentrations of the sub-T(g) unfrozen matrix. The amylopectin crystallinity type does not greatly affect T(g,onset) and T(g,midpoint) of the gels. Annealing at a temperature near T(g,onset) increases both T(g,onset) and T(g,midpoint) of the gels, possibly due to an increase in the extent of the freeze concentration as evidenced by a decrease in AUW. Annealing results in an increase in the deltaC(p) value of the gels, presumably due to structural relaxation. A devitrification exotherm may be related to AUW. The annealing process decreases AUW, thus also decreasing the size of the exotherm.