Correlation of T2 NMR with Tg/T and viscosity

Using both literature and new experimental data, we demonstrate that T 2 relaxation times are governed by the ratio T g / T , where T g is the moisture-dependent glass transition temperature and T is the actual temperature. This ratio, T g / T , is known to control the viscosity and plasticizing behavior of small carbohydrates, as well as the rheological properties of biopolymeric systems such as starch and plant proteins. For small carbohydrates, the T 2 data collapse onto a universal master curve, analogous to their viscosity behavior. For biopolymers, however, the current dataset is insufficient to confirm the existence of such a master curve. Additionally, we show that T 2 NMR provides an accurate estimate of the glass transition temperature of small carbohydrates, with deviations within 1%–2%. This makes it a promising method for high-throughput screening of the plasticizing properties of novel sugar replacers.