Studies of the Drying Performance of Melon and Rubber Seed Oils.

ABSTRACT Oxygen absorption studies of blends of oils of seed s eed melon~(~SD), rubber (RSO) and linseed (LSD) have been L carried out at room temperature in order to optimise the drying performance of MSO and RSO. A manometer was used to measure O2 absorbed. The set-to-touch time ( STTT) of o i l o r o i l blend was measured after 3 hours of O2 absorption and 18 hours of ageing. Addition of LSO to MSO reduced its STTT from 12.25 hours to 4.0 hours at 50/50; this compares favourably with the STTT of 3.0 hours for pure LSD. Also, addition of RSO to MSO reduced its STTT to 7.5 hours at 50/50. However, addition of LSO to RSO reduced its STTT from 6.8 to 6.7 hours at 50/50, inspite of reasonable increase in O2 absorption. This poor performance of RSO/LSO blends in STTT is probably due to evolution of excess water during drying.