Rheology Behavior of Biopolymer Gels

Cellulose-based hydrogels and other polysaccharides find extensive use in diverse industrial applications, serving as effective thickeners and gelling agents. They contribute texture to food products, act as structural agents in toothpaste, and are notably utilized in pharmaceutical products. Despite their significant role, providing a molecular-level description of the processes governing their flow behavior remains a challenge. In this work, we employ rheological tests to investigate the flow characteristics of a cellulose-based biopolymer (CMC) and a polysaccharide (xanthan gum) with respect to polymer concentration, with a specific focus on the sol-gel transition. Of particular interest is the exploration of how rheological parameters within the constitutive law vary with concentration, emphasizing on apparent viscosity and yield stress.