Effects of Low-melting-point Fractions of Cocoa Butter on Rice Bran Wax-corn Oil Mixtures: Thermal, Crystallization and Rheological Properties.

ABSTRACT

The fatty acid compositions, polymorphism, solid fat content (SFC), thermal properties, microstructure and rheological properties of fat blends of rice bran wax and corn oil (RWC) with low-melting-point fractions of cocoa butter (LFCB) in the range of 20-50% were investigated. With the raising content of LFCB, the hardness, SFC, storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G'') of blend samples increased. The unsaturated fatty acids of blend samples with different LFCB proportion were in the range of 60.42% to 71.25%. Two kinds of polymorphism were observed in blend samples, which were ß'-Form and ß-Form. During the crystallization process, the rice bran wax was first crystallized, and then induced a part of LFCB formed ß'-Form crystals and another LFCB formed the ß-Form crystals. The results show that the addition of LFCB could improve the plasticity of fat blends and reduce the difference in properties between them and commercial shortening.