U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research: Ames, IA
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Database Projects
                        MaizeGDB
                                    SoyBase
                                    PeanutBase
                                    Legume Information System
                                    Maize Newsletter
                                    Maize Mutant Phenotypes
                                    Maize Genetics Conference
                                    Shiny Soybase CNV
                                    Shiny Soybase SNP
                                    Common Bean and Alfalfa - PvGEA
                                    Common Bean and Alfalfa - AGEDSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Midwest Area Ames, Iowa Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            HOCH, JAY - Iowa State Universityitem
                                            Moran Lauter, Adrienneitem
                                            Scott, Marvin
  Submitted to: Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter
                                    Publication Type: Other
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2010
                                    Publication  Date: 6/29/2011
                                    Citation: Hoch, J., Moran Lauter, A., Scott, M.P. 2011. Comparison of tungsten carbide and stainless steel ball bearings for grinding single maize kernels in a reciprocating grinder. Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter. 85. Available: http://www.agron.missouri.edu/mnl/85/HTML/02hoch.htm.Interpretive Summary: Maize researchers often need to grind corn prior to analysis. Grinding takes a lot of time, adding to the labor cost of experiments and limiting what experiments can be done. High throughput grinding tools exist, but they do not give a satisfactory grind of single kernels in our experience. We developed a new method of grinding single kernels using a high throughput grinder. This new method produces a better grind, allowing us to use a high throughput grinder for experiments requiring a high quality grind. Maize researchers who analyze grain will benefit from this work because it reduces the cost of obtaining a high quality grind.
                                Technical Abstract: Reciprocating grinders can grind single maize kernels by shaking the kernel in a vial with a ball bearing. This process results in a grind quality that is not satisfactory for many experiments. Tungesten carbide ball bearings are nearly twice as dense as steel, so we compared their grinding performance to that of the stainless steel ball bearings normally used. We ground four maize genotypes of varying hardeness. While the two bearing types gave similar performance when grinding extremely soft kernels, the tungsten carbide beardings resulted in finer grinds with normal and hard kernels. The use of tungten carbide bearings will benefit maize researchers by providing improved grinds with reciprocating grinders.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov