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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Molecular Entanglement and Electrospinnability of Biopolymers
Published on: September 3, 2014
Effects of solvent perturbation on gelation driven by spinodal demixing
D Bulone1, A Emanuele, P L San Biagio
1CNR-Istituto per le Applicazioni Interdisciplinari della Fisica, Via U. La Malfa, 153-I90146 Palermo, Italy.
Abstract:
We study effects of solvent perturbation on kinetic competition between spinodal demixing and gelation in agarose solutions at a concentration of 5 g/l. Two different cosolutes (tert-butyl alcohol and trimethyl amine N-oxide) known for altering in opposite way solvent-mediated interactions are chosen. By rheometry, static and dynamic light scattering experiments, we show that the cosolute presence shifts the boundary of the instability region of solution leaving unaffected temperature and polymer concentration values required for percolation. Results suggest that an appropriate choice of quenching temperature and solvent allows controlling the gelation time and the gel structural properties.
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