Comparative study of the physicochemical properties of a vegan dressing-type mayonnaise and traditional commercial mayonnaise

The food industry has developed a vegan dressing-type mayonnaise due to new consumer demands. The aim of this study was to compare three commercial mayonnaise types with a vegan dressing, measuring their physicochemical properties. Four dressing samples were analyzed: vegan, homemade recipe, creamy, and light. The following properties were measured: water activity, color, droplet size, rheological properties, structural analysis, and oxidative stability. A high color difference was observed between vegan and the other samples due to the presence of chickpea protein. The size and distribution of droplets of the vegan sample were greater than the others. The rheological properties indicated that all samples are non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluids. The FT-IR results indicated that the highest peak for vegan corresponded to its content in mono-unsaturated fat. Therefore, it showed the lowest oxidative stability. In conclusion, the mayonaise formulations were affected by physicochemical properties such as the content and composition of the oil, thickener and protein contents, along with processing technology.

Short- and Medium-Wave Infrared Drying of Cantaloupe (Cucumis melon L.) Slices: Drying Kinetics and Process Parameter Optimization

The main objective of the present work was to study the drying kinetics and obtain the optimum process parameters of cantaloupe slices using short-and medium-wave infrared radiation (SMIR) drying technology. The effect of three independent variables of infrared radiation temperature (55–65 °C), slice thickness (5–9 mm) and radiation distance (80–160 mm) on the L value, color difference (∆E), hardness and vitamin C content were investigated by using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results showed that the Page model can adequately predict the moisture content between 55 and 65 °C (R2 > 0.99). The effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) varied from 5.26 × 10−10 to 2.09 × 10−9 m2/s and the activation energy (Ea) of the SMIR drying was 31.84 kJ/mol. Infrared radiation temperature and slice thickness exerted extremely significant effects on L value and color difference (ΔE) (p < 0.01), with higher infrared radiation temperature and thin slice thickness leading to a decrease in the L value and an increase in ΔE. Hardness and vitamin C content were significantly affected by infrared radiation temperature, slice thickness and radiation distance, of which the slice thickness was the most distinct factor affecting the hardness value. Higher infrared radiation temperature and larger slice thickness and radiation distance resulted in higher vitamin C degradation. For the given constraints (maximized vitamin C content and L value, minimized ΔE and hardness value), the optimum drying parameters were infrared radiation temperature 58.2 °C, slice thickness 6 mm and radiation distance 90 mm. Under the optimum drying combination conditions, the experimental values were 65.58 (L value), 8.57 (∆E), 10.49 N (hardness) and 106.58 mg/100 g (vitamin C content), respectively. This study is beneficial to the development of the cantaloupe food processing industry and provides more insights for the application of SMIR drying technology to improve the drying rate and product quality of cantaloupe.

Color Changes and Mechanical Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polycarbonate Composites after Thermal Aging

Thermal aging of polymer matrix composites exert significant influence on their properties and applications. This paper studied the color changes and mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate (GF-PC) composites after aging at different temperatures, and the correlation between the trend of color changes and mechanical properties after aging was discussed. The GF-PC composites were aged at 85 °C, 100 °C, 115 °C, 130 °C and 145 °C, respectively. Thereafter, CIELAB colors were used to characterize the color changes of the composites after aging. Tensile and three-point bending tests were carried out to determine the mechanical properties of the composites. According to the values of CIELAB color, the color changes and the color difference (ΔE) of the GF-PC composites after aging were calculated, which showed that color of the GF-PC composite aged at 100 °C changed the most. The color changes of the composites after aging mainly comes from the change of brightness (L value), which was 25.067 for the Raw GF-PC composite. When the aging temperature increased from 85 °C to 100 °C, the brightness of the composites also increased, but decreased when the aging temperature is above 100 °C and continues to rise. Coincidentally, the trend of the mechanical properties of GF-PC composites is closely associated with color changes in the aging temperature range of 85 °C to 145 °C. The tensile and flexural strength of the composites reached the maximum value 72 MPa and 131 MPa, respectively, after aged at 100 °C. It can be speculated that the brightness of the GF-PC composites correlates with trends observed in its tensile strength and bending strength.

Influence of UV Radiation on the Color Change of the Surface of Steamed Maple Wood with Saturated Water Steam

The wood of maple (Acer Pseudopatanus L.) was steamed with a saturated steam-air mixture at a temperature of t = 95 °C or saturated steam at t = 115 °C and t = 135 °C, in order to give a pale pink-brown, pale brown, and brown-red color. Subsequently, samples of unsteamed and steamed maple wood were irradiated with a UV lamp in a Xenotest Q-SUN Xe-3-H after drying, in order to test the color stability of steamed maple wood. The color change of the wood surface was evaluated by means of measured values on the coordinates of the color space CIE L* a* b*. The results show that the surface of unsteamed maple wood changes color markedly under the influence of UV radiation than the surface of steamed maple wood. The greater the darkening and browning color of the maple wood by steaming, the smaller the changes in the values at the coordinates L*, a*, b* of the steamed maple wood caused by UV radiation. The positive effect of steaming on UV resistance is evidenced by the decrease in the overall color difference ∆E*. While the value of the total color diffusion of unsteamed maple wood induced by UV radiation is ∆E* = 18.5, for maple wood steamed with a saturated steam-air mixture at temperature t = 95 °C the ∆E* decreases to 12.6, for steamed maple wood with saturated water steam with temperature t = 115 °C the ∆E* decreases to 10.4, and for saturated water steam with temperature t = 135 °C the ∆E* decreases to 7.2. Differential ATR-FTIR spectra declare the effect of UV radiation on unsteamed and steamed maple wood and confirm the higher color stability of steamed maple wood.

Simulation of chromatic and achromatic assessments for camouflage textiles and combat background

Chromatic and achromatic (AC) assessments of camouflage textiles have been critical to the defense researchers for concealment, detection, recognition, and identification (CDRI) of target signature against multidimensional combat background (CB). AC assessment and camouflage measurement techniques are simulated and experimented for assessment of camouflage textiles against CB. This model has been demonstrated for color measurement spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), digital imaging, hyperspectral imaging, and image processing software (ImageJ) for the advancement and establishment of AC camouflage textiles assessment. The chromatic variations of 48 artificial target objects (TOBs) have been synthesized by image processing; the technique can be implemented for defense CB-CDRI assessment. Microstructural variation versus optical signal of woodland, desertland and stoneland CB materials have been elucidated by SEM magnification. The achromatic variation of CB materials have been demonstrated for the replacement of optical signal against modern remote sensing device to the imaging sensor. Color difference (Δ E), microstructural variations, pixel variations to imaging signal and standard deviation of CB materials have been represented for remote sensing surveillance of defense applications against TOB-CB-CDRI. Technical simulation of color, texture, gloss, and pixel intensity has been derived for AC-CDRI assessment of camouflage textiles in TOBs-CB environment.

Investigating the Possibility of Determining the Sequence Intersecting Lines between LaserJet Printing and Handwriting in Document Examination using Color Measurement Technique

In Questioned Documents Examination, the sequence of crossing lines in the intersection of handwriting and printed area can be important clues for detecting tampered documents. Recognition of such documents is a arduous task and requires people with experience and expertise. In the present work, we investigated the possibility of determining the sequence of intersecting lines between LaserJet printing and handwriting for a series of simulated laboratory specimens in the document examination using color measurement technique. The spectral reflectance curves and color coordinates of some points on and out of the cross lines were compared. Four different commercial ballpoint pens and a black toner LaserJet were used to prepare the specimens. The color change of the intersecting lines was subjectively considered through the captured images and a visual assessment process. It was also objectively determined by determining the color difference values from the colorimetric data in CIELAB and CIELCH color spaces in the visible range. The color change evaluation showed that the order in which printing or handwriting is applied alters colorimetric results. Moreover, the investigations showed small color difference values of less than 2 units between a point of printed area individually, and intersection could be applied as a tolerance limit for pass/fail judgments.

Evaluation of Applicability to Metofluthrin-based Termiticide for the Traditional Wooden Buildings

In this study, we investigated the applicability of a termiticide based on metofluthrin for termite control on traditional wooden buildings. To evaluate their mortality, termites were exposed to the agent, diluted to various concentrations, for seven days; it was found that it had a sufficient insecticidal effect although there was a difference depending on the degree of agent dilution. Next, the effect on Dancheong, used in traditional wooden structures, was measured based on the color change according to the number of agent treatments. The results showed that only the color difference value of two pigments (i.e., Bun and Juhong) was measured as 3.0 or higher. However, there this varied according to the dilution ratio. Thus, it was found that most pigments had little effect on the color of Dancheong. Finally, the termiticidal efficacy of the agent when applied to wood was evaluated. We found that the specimens coated with 10-fold and 20-fold dilutions exhibited 2.83 and 6.28% mass loss, respectively. The 10-fold dilution satisfied the performance of termiticide as a mass loss of less than 3%. In conclusion, the metofluthrin-based agent used in this study has little effect on various Dancheong pigments and has a termiticidal effect against termites; it is therefore suggested that it may be used in preserving traditional wooden cultural properties in Korea.

Color changes of ash wood (Fraxinus excelsior L.) caused by thermal modification in air and steam

Color changes of ash wood (Fraxinus excelsior L.) caused by thermal modification in air and steam. Ash wood samples of 20x20x30 mm were subjected to thermal modification in different conditions. The thermal modification was conducted in air at 190 °C and in steam at 160 °C. For both environments modification lasted 2, 6 and 10 hours. Samples color parameters were measured before and after thermal modification on the basis of the mathematical CIELab color space model. Changes in all parameters (L, a and b) were observed, the highest in lightness (L) - darker color. The total color difference (ΔE) and chromaticity change (ΔC) were calculated for all samples. The highest value of ΔE was obtained for wood modified in the air at 190 °C for 10 h. The highest value of ΔC was obtained for wood modified in steam at 160 °C for 10 h. However, the value obtained for wood modified in the air at 190 °C for 10 h were only slightly lower.

Preparation of Melamine/Rice Husk Powder Coated Shellac Microcapsules and Effect of Different Rice Husk Powder Content in Wall Material on Properties of Wood Waterborne Primer

The melamine/rice husk powder-coated shellac microcapsules were prepared by in-situ polymerization with melamine resin mixed with rice husk powder as microcapsule wall material and shellac as microcapsule core material. The effect of the addition amount of microcapsules with different wall material ratios on the performance of wood waterborne primer coating was investigated. The results show that the most important factor affecting the performance of microcapsules is the content of rice husk powder. Through the preparation and analysis of shellac microcapsule primer coating coated with melamine/rice husk powder, when the content of microcapsule powder is 0–6%, it has little effect on the optical properties of wood waterborne primer coating, and the microcapsule with 5.5% rice husk powder has little effect on the color difference of primer coating. The coating hardness increases with the increase of rice husk powder content in wall material. When the rice husk powder content in wall material is more than 5.5%, the coating hardness reaches the best. When the content of microcapsule powder is 3.0–9.0%, the adhesion of the coating is better, and the coating with rice husk powder content of 5.5% in microcapsule wall material has better impact resistance. When the content of rice husk powder was 5.5% and the content of microcapsule powder was 6%, the elongation at break of the primer coating was the highest and the tensile resistance was the best. The composition of wood waterborne primer did not change after adding microcapsule. The water-based primer with microcapsule has better aging resistance. The water-based primer coating with rice husk powder content of 5.5% and the addition amount of 6% had the best comprehensive performance, which lays the technical reference for the toughness and self-repairing of the waterborne wood coatings.

Effect of Thermal Aging on Mechanical Properties and Color Difference of Glass Fiber/Polyetherimide (GF/PEI) Composites

This research study is aimed at evaluating the mechanical characteristics in terms of tensile strength and flexural strength of glass fiber reinforced Polyetherimide (GF/PEI) under different thermal aging. Tensile testing and bending testing were performed on the thermally aged polyetherimide composites. The mechanical properties of the thermally aged samples were also correlated with their color difference. The experimental results showed that both the tensile strength and flexural strength of the GF/PEI composite samples decreased with increasing aging temperature. However, the elastic modulus of the composite samples is nearly independent on the thermal aging. The thermally aged samples exhibited brittle fracture, resulting in low strength and low ductility. The loss in strength after thermal aging could be also linked to the change of their color difference, which can indirectly reflect the change of the strength for the composites after thermal aging.