3.1. Isothermal crystallization behavior of palm oil
To gain more insight into the isothermal crystallization mechanism
of palm oil, stop-and-return experiments at different temperatures
were performed. Hereby, the crystallization process is interrupted at
different moments during the isothermal period and subsequently,
the sample temperature is raised. In this way, the melting profile of
the crystals formed during the preceding isothermal period is obtained.
The melting profiles are plotted as functions of time and give information
about the amount of crystallization (peak area) and possible polymorphic
transitions (shifts in melting temperature or peak maximum)
during the isothermal period