Ultrastructure and rheological behaviour of biopolymer mixtures containinggalactomannans.

The ultrastructure of galactomannan/other polysaccharide (dextran and xanth an) mixtures was studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Polysacchar ides were covalently labelled with a fluorescent dye (RITC). Phase separati on processes were observed, due to thermodynamic incompatibility between th e two macromolecular species. The microscopic observations are compared to rheological results and to the description of the macroscopic state of the mixed systems.