Material state diagrams for informed decision-making during drying of contemporary rice cultivars

Improper drying of rice can cause significant kernel defects. A rice material state diagram consisting of glass transition temperature (Tg) at various moisture content (MC) levels is a tool that helps predict the appropriate drying temperatures to employ. The present diagrams were however developed for old rice cultivars which may be inadequate for predicting the drying behavior of contemporary cultivars. The objective of this study was therefore to develop material state diagrams along with updated Tg prediction models tailored to accommodate the contemporary rice cultivars presently grown. In the study, 23 rice cultivars were analyzed and revealed average Tg values of approximately 39, 41, 43, 45, and 47 °C at MC levels of 20%, 18%, 16%, 14%, and 12%, respectively. The updated material state diagrams developed from the results incorporated a Tg prediction model, indicating elevated Tg values and an improved R2 value of 0.72, when compared to prior research findings.