Comportamento reológico e propriedades termofísicas da polpa de goiaba.

Abstract

The rheological and thermophysical properties of guava cv. Paluna pulp were determined at concentrations of 8, 10 and 12 °Brix, and temperatures between 10 and 50 °C. The samples, previously characterized with respect to chemical and physical properties, were submitted to viscometric measures, using a Brookfield RVT viscometer to obtain data on viscosity, torque, shear stress and shear rate. Shear stress and shear rate data were fit to the Power Law, Casson, Herschel-Bulkley and Mizrahi & Berk models. Thermophysical properties and the respective determination methodologies were density using the pycnometer method, specifíc heat by the method of mixtures, and thermal diffusiveness using the infinite cylinder method. Thermal conductivity was obtained from the relation with density, specifíc heat and thermal diffusiveness, obtained experimentally. Thermophysical properties were also estimated by equations proposed in the literature and results were compared with experimental results. Guava pulps are characterized as acids and concentration did not affect color, luminosity, redness or yellowness. Samples exhibited pseudoplastic behavior, while viscosity was iníluenced by temperature and followed an Arrhenius-type relation. Specifíc heat was reduced with an increase in concentration and density, following a direct relation with concentration and inverse with temperature. Density was estimated by equations at ali concentrations. Thermal conductivity, calculated by equations proposed in the literature, did not result in acceptable estimates.