FORMATION OF AGAR GELS AND YIELD STRESS

The yield stress of agar gels has been measured by different methods and the results compared. The yield stress which occurs during cooling of polymer solutions indicates the beginning of crystalline network formation. This point defines the temperature of plastic flow; its determination shows that the gel formation is subordinated to cooling conditions of the solution: the process of gelification is retarded by very fast cooling, and is induced at a lower temperature than occurs with slow cooling. We follow the formation of gels in conditions similar to those used in manufacturing processes.