Evaluation of Soybean Seedcoat Cracking During Drying:PART I. Using Drying Tests

ABSTRACT

In this study, seedcoat cracking during heated air drying was investigated in five varieties of Minnesota grown soybeans. Effects of initial moisture contents, drying temperatures and time on cracking levels were evaluated. Digital image analysis (DIA) was employed to measure initial sizes and shapes of soybeans in order to evaluate the influence of physical properties of mature seeds on cracking frequency.

Seedcoat cracking rates increased significantly with increase in initial moisture content of the soybeans. drying temperature and time. Rapid water loss at higher initial moisture contents led to greater seedcoat cracking. Variety.growing location. and sizc of soybeans had significant influence on seedcoat cracking. Statistical analysis indicates that interactions between various factors had significant influence on seedcoat cracking.     

Evaluation of Soybean Seedcoat Cracking During Drying:PART II. Using MRI

MRI techniques were developed and employed for non-destructive and noninvasive study of seedcoat cracking in low moisture soybean kernels during heated air drying. Proton density image and transient moisture distribution profile of a single soybean kernel can be obtained using MRI. These MRI techniques proved to be particularly useful for the continuous observation of initiation and propagation of seedcoat cracking during the entire period of drying process without interruption.

The proton density images of soybean kernels showed that seedcoat cracking was initiated perpendicular to the long axis of the kernel near the hilum. The transient moisture distribution profiles in soybean kernels during drying indicate that moisture gradient developed during drying was higher in the seedcoat than in the cotyledon. Drying temperature and initial average moisture content were positively correlated with the soyhean seedcoat crackig. The location of the     

Evaluation of Soybean Seedcoat Cracking During Drying:PART I. Using Drying Tests

In this study, seedcoat cracking during heated air drying was investigated in five varieties of Minnesota grown soybeans. Effects of initial moisture contents, drying temperatures and time on cracking levels were evaluated. Digital image analysis (DIA) was employed to measure initial sizes and shapes of soybeans in order to evaluate the influence of physical properties of mature seeds on cracking frequency.

Seedcoat cracking rates increased significantly with increase in initial moisture content of the soybeans. drying temperature and time. Rapid water loss at higher initial moisture contents led to greater seedcoat cracking. Variety.growing location. and sizc of soybeans had significant influence on seedcoat cracking. Statistical analysis indicates that interactions between various factors had significant influence on seedcoat cracking.     

Modifications of carbon for polymer composites and nanocomposites

The various forms of carbon used in composite preparation include mainly carbon-black, carbon nanotubes and nanofibers, graphite and fullerenes. This review presents a detailed literature survey on the various modifications of the carbon nanostructures for nanocomposite preparation focusing upon the works published in the last decade. The modifications of each form of carbon are considered, with a compilation of structure-property relationships of carbon-based polymer nanocomposites. Modifications in both bulk and surface modifications have been reviewed, with comparison of their mechanical, thermal, electrical and barrier properties. A synopsis of the applications of these advanced materials is presented, pointing out gaps to motivate potential research in this field.