AN EMPIRICAL-MODEL FOR THE STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIPS OF HYDROCOLLOID GELS IN TENSION MODE

The mechanical properties of hydrocolloid gels with high gum concentra tions (agar 1-5%, gellan 1-3% and K-carrageenan 0.5-3.0%), were measur ed under uniaxial tension. A simple power law model was used to descri be the stress-strain curves which tended to be concave upward. The ove rall stiffness and the extent to which the stress-strain curve deviate d from a straight line were estimated by the calculated constants of t his model, using linear regression of the model's logarithmic transfor m.