The mechanized system, of multiple impacts, used by the Brazilian cashew nut industry damages the kernels yielding to only 50 to 60% of whole kernels. To investigate the performance of shelling cashew nuts using an impact associated with a limited oriented deformation, a special device was designed and constructed. Initially it was found the maximum specific deformation corresponding to the best performance in shelling. With this value, called limit specific deformation, it was investigated the effect of several combinations of humidification and thermal treatment times, commonly used in the preparation of the nut of the clone CCP-76, for shelling, in the performance of a single oriented impact with limited deformation shelling. The cashew nuts were characterized by their dimensions and weight before and after preparation. The impact device showed to be effective and easy to operate. The largest index, of 77,55%, of liberated whole kernels was obtained to a specific deformation of 19%. After preparation nuts showed average mass loss of 25,7%, increase in length, width and thickness of 7,03%, 5,77% e 7,35%, respectively. For the answer surface methodology, no differences in shelling performance was observed among treatments suggesting.
Anacardium ocidentale; viscoelasticity; rupture
