KNOWLEDGE 03 / WATER INTERACTION
Water changes
the ingredient.
Why hydration conditions, particle architecture and processing time can materially influence ingredient behaviour.
Not simply
how much.
Hydration is a system involving ingredient form, water availability, temperature, time, mechanical treatment and the rest of the formulation.
Two materials with similar composition may behave differently when their physical structures and processing histories differ.
Five variables
to control.
Particle
Surface area and physical architecture influence water access.
Time
Water interaction develops through the process timeline.
Temperature
Thermal conditions can alter process behaviour.
Mixing
Mechanical treatment affects distribution and interaction.
System
Other ingredients compete for and modify water availability.
Measure hydration
inside the process.
Application trials should replicate the relevant process as closely as practical. A laboratory hydration observation may not predict a full industrial system without considering mixing, temperature and residence time.