Hydrogels Based on Pullulan Crosslinked with sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP): Rheological study

• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-004-0299-4
• Publication Date: 2004-10-27T06:36:49Z
• Authors: St�phane Lack; Virginie Dulong; Didier Le Cerf; Luc Picton; Jean Fran�ois Arg...; Guy Muller
• Keywords: [CHIM.POLY] Chemical Sciences/Polymers; [CHIM.POLY]Chemical Sciences/Polymers; pullulan; STMP; [CHIM] Chemical Sciences; polysaccharides; [CHIM]Chemical Sciences; crosslinking; 01 natural sciences; hydrogels; 0104 chemical sciences

Hydrogels from pullulan crosslinked with sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) under alkaline condition have been investigated by rheological measurements. The influence of reagents concentration (pullulan, STMP, NaOH) on kinetics of reaction and rheological properties is reported. Increasing concentrations of any reagents lead to an increase of the crosslinking kinetics. Increasing the polymer concentration leads to a “stronger” gel whereas an increase of crosslinking reagent (STMP) evidences a critical concentration above which the rheological properties of the gel do not change anymore. This may be explained by the specificity of the system for which the polymer concentration is high and negative charges appear.