Moisture-Dependent Physical and Mechanical Properties of White Sesame Seed

The effect of moisture content on the physical and mechanical properties of white sesame seed was determined to explore the possibility of developing its bulk handling and processing equipment. The average length, width and thickness, geometric mean diameter, volume of the seed and 100 seed mass ranged from 3.019 to 3.074 mm, 1.844 to 1.935 mm and 0.724 to 0.771 mm, 1.589 to 1.659 mm, 1.315 to 1.508 mm and 1.165 to 1.20g 3 as the moisture content increased from 4.5 to 15% wet basis, respectively. As the moisture content increased, the bulk density, true density and porosity were found to decrease from 607.3 to 542.1 kg/m , 1140 to 943.5 kg/m 33 and 46.73 to 42.54%, respectively, whereas the angle of repose increased 20.16 to 28.67°. When moisture content increased, the aspect ratio and surface area increased from 52.75 to 54.04%, from 24.06 to 25.12% and from 6.785 to 7.367 mm , respectively. The static coefficient of friction on various surfaces, namely, steel sheet, aluminium, 2 galvanized metal also increased linearly with increase in moisture content. The highest static coefficient of friction was found on the steel sheet surface. The rupture force decreased with increasing moisture from 9.90 to 10.625 N.