ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to guide the reader through the changes in the properties of the dough system, which are the consequences of compositional rearrangements and physical variables within the framework of polymer morphology at the molecular level. It focuses on how a material can be modified by the presence or addition of another component. The modification does not implicitly require the presence of a second component in addition to the basic plastic material. The terms plasticity, plastic deformation, and plastic are typically derived from the viscoelastic world, and must be clearly defined for end-use properties. Plasticity is the capacity of a material to be molded and to retain its shape for a significant period of time under finite forces. Materials exhibiting plastic behavior are described as soft solids, as they exhibit flow above a yield stress, passing from the elastic to plastic deformation. Plasticizer is a substance that is incorporated into plastic materials to improve their workability and increase flexibility.
