How to measure spreadability

Spreadability refers to how easily a product, typically a semi-solid or viscous substance, can be spread across a surface. This characteristic is important in various industries, especially for products like margarine, butter, pastes, jams, and ointments. It is closely related to firmness - softer products are generally easier to spread. Measuring and understanding spreadability behaviour helps manufacturers ensure that their products meet the desired texture and performance standards, influencing both consumer experience and product usability.

Spreadability testing using a Texture Analyser is valuable for assessing how easily creams, gels, and pastes can be applied. Below are key applications:

• Cosmetic cream spreadability testing: Evaluating the ease with which cosmetic creams and lotions can be spread over the skin. Consumers expect these products to glide easily without feeling sticky or heavy. In products like foundation or concealer, spreadability ensures even coverage without clumping or streaking. With hair gels and pomades spreadability testing ensures that hair styling products are easy to apply and distribute evenly without leaving residue.
• Pharmaceutical topical product spread analysis: Pharmaceutical ointments and gels must spread evenly over the skin for effective delivery of active ingredients. Spreadability testing ensures these products apply smoothly without excessive force, ensuring patient comfort and efficacy.
• Food spread analysis: Measuring the spreadability of food products like peanut butter and margarine is crucial as consumers expect these products to spread easily without tearing bread or crackers. Measuring spreadability at different temperatures helps manufacturers ensure consistent quality across a range of conditions.
• Lubricant spreadability analysis: Assessing the ease with which lubricants or greases can be spread on metal surfaces by measuring the force needed for an even application.
• Culinary ingredient spread measurement: Measuring the spreadability of food products like chocolate spread or frosting.
• Dental product spreadability testing: Evaluating the ease with which dental products, like toothpaste or gels, can be applied to a toothbrush or tooth surface.
• Inkjet ink spread analysis: Testing how easily inkjet printer ink spreads on substrates like paper by measuring the force required to distribute/extrude the ink droplet.
• Paint spreadability evaluation: Assessing the ease of spreading paints or coatings.

In these examples, a Texture Analyser is used to quantify the force needed to spread various substances, providing insights into their spreadability, which is essential for product development, quality control, and consumer satisfaction in different industries.

In a typical spreadability measurement test, the sample is set up in a ‘female’ cone and the force to push a ‘male’ cone into the sample and cause it to spread between the two cone faces is a measure of its spreadability.

Spreadability Rig

A full explanation of this curve and its analysis can be accessed within Exponent Connect software. Existing Exponent users can upgrade to Exponent Connect specification.

Below is a video example of how we can help you understand curve analysis for an example property. 

• Viscosity refers to a material’s resistance to flow. Materials with high viscosity (e.g., thick creams, peanut butter) are more difficult to spread and will require more force, resulting in a higher peak force on the graph. Materials with low viscosity (e.g., lotions, soft butter) spread easily and show a lower peak force and more gradual force curves.
• Temperature: Temperature plays a critical role in spreadability. Higher temperatures reduce viscosity, making materials easier to spread, while lower temperatures can increase viscosity, making the material harder to spread. For example, butter spreads more easily at room temperature than when refrigerated.
• Composition: The composition of the material, including its fat content, water content, and the presence of emulsifiers or thickeners, impacts spreadability. For example, high-fat content products like margarine spread more easily than low-fat alternatives due to their softer consistency. Materials with more solids or particulate matter (e.g., nut butters with nuts) may exhibit less smooth spreadability and show fluctuations in the force graph due to inconsistencies.
• Hydration: The water content of a material affects how smoothly it spreads. Well-hydrated materials are more spreadable, while drier materials may resist spreading and break or crumble.

The Stable Micro Systems Texture Analyser excels in optimising spreadability measurements through its comprehensive approach and specialised features. Equipped with a dedicated Spreadability Rig, it precisely quantifies multiple properties including work of shear, ease of spreading, firmness, and stickiness across a wide range of products from foods to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Whether for margarines, ointments, or creams, the Texture Analyser captures detailed force-time-distance profiles via Exponent Connect software, enabling in-depth analysis of spreadability behaviour. Backed by Stable Micro Systems' expertise in method development and data interpretation, this makes it the ideal choice for industries seeking to refine product formulations and maintain quality standards in spreadability testing.