Rheological study of reinforcement of agarose hydrogels by cellulose nanowhiskers

Kevin J Le Goff; Cedric Gaillard; William Helbert; Catherine Garnier; Thierry Aubry

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.04.085

Rheological study of reinforcement of agarose hydrogels by cellulose nanowhiskers

Carbohydr Polym. 2015 Feb 13:116:117-23. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.04.085. Epub 2014 Apr 28.

Authors

Kevin J Le Goff¹, Cedric Gaillard², William Helbert³, Catherine Garnier², Thierry Aubry⁴

Affiliations

¹ LIMATB - Equipe Rhéologie, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 6 avenue Victor Le Gorgeu, CS 93837, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France.
² INRA - UR 1268 Unité Biopolymères, Interactions, Assemblages, Rue de la Géraudière, BP 71627, 44316 Nantes Cedex 3, France.
³ CERMAV - CNRS UPR 5301, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
⁴ LIMATB - Equipe Rhéologie, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 6 avenue Victor Le Gorgeu, CS 93837, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France. Electronic address: thierry.aubry@univ-brest.fr.

PMID: 25458280
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.04.085

Abstract

The influence of the addition of tunicate cellulose nanowhiskers on the structural and rheological properties of an agarose hydrogel matrix has been studied, with the objective to design innovative green material, with good mechanical properties. The cellulose nanowhiskers were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, and their charge surface density was determined by a titration method. Oscillatory shear and stress relaxation tests were performed in order to characterize the rheological properties of the agarose matrix, and of the agarose hydrogels filled by nanowhiskers at volume fractions below 0.2%. The results show a significant reinforcement effect due to the addition of nanowhiskers, and suggest changes in the matrix network structure induced by the cellulose nanoparticles.

Keywords: Agarose hydrogels; Cellulose nanowhiskers; Rheological behavior; Structure.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't