Among the many parameters which can be quantified (and are not otherwise quantifiable with alternative instruments) are firmness, relaxation, swelling, adhesiveness, tack, stickiness, cohesiveness, rupture/burst and extensibility.

Stable Micro Systems' TA.XT2 Texture Analyzer is is by far the most popular instrument worldwide for testing the physical properties of gels and gel like materials.  Virtually the entire membership of the Gelatin Manufacturers Institute of America has standardized their gel testing using the TA.XT2 Texture Analyzer.  The TA.XT2 is officially recommended for gelatin testing by the Gelatin Manufactures Institute of America and for pectin by the International Pectin Producers Association. 

The TA.XT2i 5 kilo model for gels has a force sensitivity of  0.1 gram (0.1 bloom number), and a distance sensitivity of 0.025 mm.  The TA.XTPlus has adistance sensitivity of 0.001 mm. It is perfect for measuring bloom, rupture distance and force and other qualities in gels, pectin, agars, colloids, surimi as well as stabilizers, gums and additives. It is popular for mucoadhesive gels, medical gels, protein gels and silicon gels.  We have many unique methods to quantify the extensibility and tensile characteristics of gels.  Many other instron - like instruments cannot match our sensitivity, reproduciability or fixtures for gel applications.

TTC and SMS have been helping users design tests to measure the physical properties of their gels for over ten years!  And we have been keeping up with gel test method standards.

Of recent note, the GME (Gelatin Manufacturers of Europe) has notified SMS regarding the standardisation of bloom testing procedures for gelatin.  The GME explained:

"Within Europe, it has been practice to test Bloom gel strength of gelatin according to the conditions and procedure described in BS757:1975  (Methods for sampling and testing gelatin).  BS757:1975 has ceased to be an "active" standard in the sense that copies are no longer available from the BSI, which has no plans to review and update this standard to reflect, for example, the more sophisticated gelometers currently in general use or improvements to the method.

In North America, South America, Japan and many other countries the procedure for Bloom testing is essentially identical to the BS method apart from the use of an "AOAC" gelometer plunger which has a sharp lower edge, in contrast to the BS plunger which has a bottom edge rounded to a radius of 0.4mm.  This small difference in plunger design results in Bloom values which, on average, have a tendency to be slightly higher using the AOAC plunger than using the BS plunger.  This difference falls within the 95% confidence limits for expected agreement on Bloom testing between different laboratories.  It would be desirable to have an internationally adopted standard procedure for Bloom testing.  The GME and the GMIA (Gelatin Manufacturers Institute of America) have reached agreement on standardisation using the AOAC plunger.  This will become effective from July 1st 1998."