Shearing test fixture for food texture testing Food Technology Corporation

TMS LIGHTWEIGHT SHEAR BLADE SET

Food Technology Corporation’s TMS shear blade set has been designed to replicate the specification of the original Warner-Bratzler blade. The test set should be used in conjunction with the TMS standard fixture table on the TMS-Pro or TMS-Console texture analyzers to allow blades to pass completely through samples during shear testing.

Shear blades provide an excellent indication of a cross sectional characteristics. Natural variation
and irregularities present are essentially averaged and accommodated by the blades geometry.

A single blade cuts through the sample creating a combination of shearing, tearing and compression forces. Stress initiates in compression mode until the sample yields and the blades starts to cut into the sample.

Applications include;

• Hardness of nougat bars
• Crumb hardness in fruited cakes
• Stalk softening in frozen broccoli florets
• Ripening changes as indicated by softness in bananas
• Slicing hardness of hard cheeses
• Shear toughness of chicken breast

The test set comprises of a blade holder with 2 locking screws. A central slot allows free movement of the blade to limit friction during analysis. Each blade is manufactured from stainless steel, reversible and 1mm thick. The first blade has a plane flat bottom and a 20mm notched end. The second has a 44mm and a 32mm inverted “V” with small central cut out. The stainless steel blades travel through 35mm high guide arms positioned 50mm apart into a 1.4mm wide slot at the base – these dimensions govern the size of samples used in assembly.

For more information on this and other FTC shearing fixtures, contact us now.

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