Superelastic percolation network of polyacrylamide (PAAm)-kappa carrageenan (kappa C) composite

Abstract

The elasticity of the polyacrylamide (PAAm)-kappa carrageenan (kappa C) composite was determined as a function of (w/v-%) kappa C content at 40 A degrees C. The gel composites studied contained various percentages (w/v-%) of kappa C. The elasticity of the swollen PAAm-kappa C composite was characterized by using the tensile testing technique. This study investigated the elasticity and the percolation threshold of PAAm-kappa C composite as a function of kappa C content. It is understood that the compressive elastic modulus decreases up to 1 (w/v-%) of kappa C and then increases at contents above 1(w/v-%) of kappa C. The critical exponent of elasticity y was determined between 1 and 1.6 (w/v-%) of kappa C and found to be 0.68. The observed elastic percolation threshold is consistent with the suggested values of the superelastic percolation network.