2.2. Isothermal crystallization
Blends of AMF and FFAs or fatty acid esters (from 1 to 11.6 wt.%)
were prepared directly into standard 10-mm NMR tubes. Blends
were heated at 85 C until fully melted. The tubes were then
vortexed to ensure homogenization and placed in a 80 C water
bath for 30 min before measurements. Isothermal crystallization
of pure AMF and the various blends was studied at 25 C by a low
field p-NMR unit equipped with a temperature-controlled measuring
probe (Minispec mq20, Bruker, Karlsruhe, Germany). The
samples initially warmed at 80 C were introduced into the measuring
probe at the temperature set point of 25 C. Crystallization took
place directly in the NMR device and the SFC was continuously
recorded at regular time intervals. Hereafter, each point in the
SFC vs. time plots corresponds to the average of 4 scans. The sample
temperature was continuously measured during the crystallization
process using a nonmetallic optical temperature probe (FISO Inc,
Quebec, Canada). To check the repeatability of the measurements,
plain AMF was analyzed in triplicate. Differences between the
three analyses were always lower than 0.3 SFC units.