Abstract
Thermal properties of native tapioca starch, including thermal conductivity, specific heat, and thermal diffusivity at 4, 15, and 30% moisture contents, and 25, 50, and 75°C temperature levels were studied. Thermal conductivity was measured using a line‐heat source thermal probe equipped with a computerized data acquisition system; specific heat was measured using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and thermal diffusivity was calculated from the thermal conductivity, density, and specific heat. Thermal conductivity, specific heat, and thermal diffusivity increased with the increase of temperature and/or moisture content. Prediction models for the thermal properties of tapioca starch were developed for practical applications.