Predicting the density and tensile strength of viscoelastic soy powder compacts

► Viscoelastic properties, density and tensile strength of soy powder compacts were measured. ► Soy Protein Concentrate formed slightly less dense but much stronger compacts compared to Soy Flour. ► Viscoelastic contact area between particles was estimated as a function of raw material and process variables. ► Semi mechanistic models to predict density and tensile strength were proposed based on contact area.