Correlation of T₂ NMR with T g / T and viscosity

Using both literature and new experimental data, we demonstrate that $T_2$ relaxation times are governed by the ratio $T_g/T$ , where $T_g$ is the moisture-dependent glass transition temperature and $T$ is the actual temperature. This ratio, $T_g/T$ , is known to control the viscosity and plasticizing behavior of small carbohydrates, as well as the rheological properties of biopolymeric systems such as starch and plant proteins. For small carbohydrates, the $T_2$ data collapse onto a universal master curve, analogous to their viscosity behavior. For biopolymers, however, the current dataset is insufficient to confirm the existence of such a master curve. Additionally, we show that $T_2$ NMR provides an accurate estimate of the glass transition temperature of small carbohydrates, with deviations within 1%-2%. This makes it a promising method for high-throughput screening of the plasticizing properties of novel sugar replacers.