SYNERGY OF THE KAPPA-CARRAGEENAN CAROB GALACTOMANNAN BLEND INFERRED FROM THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

Rheological measurements have been used to investigate kappa-carrageen an-carob galactomannan mixed gels at different ratios, in particular f or very low kappa-carrageenan concentrations. The viscoelastic propert ies of the gels were explored using sinusoidal tests on dynamic rheome ters and compression tests between parallel plates. The properties of the binary gels were compared with the kappa-carrageenan gels and with the carob galactomannan solutions. These measurements display signifi cant synergy for very low kappa-carrageenan concentrations. From these data, it appears that the synergy is based on a gel structure defined by a coupled network with specific junction zones. However, above a t otal polysaccharide concentration of 8-10 g l(-)1, self-association of galactomannan chains could also take place.