RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE HYDROGELS

ABSTRACT An extensive study was made of the rheological behaviour of microcrystal1ine cellulose-sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (MCC-NaCMC) gels at six different concentrations. The effect of agitation time, storage time, shear rate and temperature on the viscosity of these thixotropic gels was analysed, over 7200 resulting values of being available to this effect The pseudoplastic and thixotropic characteristics of the gels was established and a progressive decrease in gel viscosity with increasing storage time was observed, although retaining stability. On the other hand, constant agitation for five minutes was found to reduce gel viscosity by 40 to 50%, regardless of concentration.