Compaction agglomeration of corn starch in presence of different binders

A model powder system comprising corn starch has been subjected to compaction agglomeration in presence
of different binders like sugar (0–20%), pre-gelatinised starch (PGS) powder (0–20%) and vegetable
oil (0–5%). The compacted masses are examined for density and different textural parameters (linear
limit of deformation and modulus of deformability, and failure properties like failure stress/energy/
strain) employing uniaxial compression.
An increase in sugar and PGS markedly increases the failure stress, energy for failure and modulus of
deformability while showing a reverse trend for oil added samples. The strain at failure increases with the
addition of PGS and oil (6.9–14.5 and 6.9–24.4%, respectively) whereas marginal effect (6.9–8.1%) occurs
with sugar. Compacted mass having 20% PGS behaves as the toughest sample. Cluster analysis among the
textural parameters indicates a high similarity of 85% between failure stress and energy for failure. A
mechanism of failure has been proposed for compacted mass during compression that has been supported
by microstructures.