DSC and rheological studies on aqueous dispersions of curdlan

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic viscoelastic measurements of aqueous dispersions of curdlan were performed to clarify the gelation mechanism. Second run DSC heating curves for aqueous dispersions of curdlan showed a single endothermic peak for dispersions heated to temperatures lower than 53 degrees C, and splits into two peaks for dispersions heated to temperatures higher than 53 degrees C, indicating that the structural disorders of at least two different energies are involved. Dispersions heated at temperatures higher than 120 degrees C did not show any endothermic peak in the second run DSC heating curves indicating that structures formed at temperatures higher than 120 degrees C are stable and thermo-irreversible. Mechanical spectra of the aqueous dispersions of curdlan showed solid-like behaviour both at 40 and 70 degrees C although the mechanical loss tangent for the dispersion heated to a higher temperature was much smaller. All these results are consistent with previous findings that gels formed at higher temperatures are thermo-irreversible, and that gels formed at lower temperatures are thermo-reversible. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.