Ruel asks,
Is there a standard testing method for a modified carrier starch? Just like the caustic sensitivity for the pearl starch. I am looking for such test for our basis of acceptance for carrier starch samples. What we have now is just the pilot mixing/formulation at the lab and get the gel point and viscosity of the resulting mixture. However, I believe this can be misleading in some cases, because we may be getting our desired gel point and viscosity at the lab but not be able to determine the other important character of the adhesive which is the green bond.
Ruel –
Roman Skuratowicz from Ingredion Incorporated contributed the information below. I hope this provide the information you were looking for.
— Ralph.
There are a variety of different modified starches used in the industry, and many are distinct from each other. There are viscosity adjusted starches (both stabilized and not stabilized), high amylose starches, non-corn starches, derivatized starches, and custom mixtures. Depending on the type of modified starch used, one of several viscosity, fluidity, or rheology tests would be used for quality control. These are run on the starch similar to the alkali sensitivity and viscosity analyses currently used for unmodified starch. There is no specific test to determine modified starch performance in an adhesive, as the performance is subject to formulation, application conditions, and desired performance attributes.
What has traditionally been done in the field is running a production trial with the modified carrier starch formulated by the adhesive supplier, thus giving them an opportunity to demonstrate product performance as well as their formulation proficiency. Performance is measured by machine speed, bond strength, and quality of board against total consumption (application level) of adhesive. There is no standard method that can predict all of these attributes and conditions.
askralph 
December 17, 2014 at 3:21 pm
Bill Heintz, Haire Group
I totally agree with Roman. There are too many variables to consider in order to have a single test determine a good formula or total outcome of a run. Make a priority list of the factors to be evaluated[which Roman listed], Work with your adhesive supplier to attain your goal numbers in each of those areas, and repeat that procedure as many times as you want to consider suppliers. That is really the only way I know to get the best outcome at the lowest cost per sq. ft..