IX International Conference on Small Angle Scattering

J. Phys. IV France 03 (1993) C8-99-C8-102
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:1993819

Molecular structures in biopolymers sols and gels

J.M. GUENET¹, C. ROCHAS² and A. BRÛLET<sup>3

1</sup>  Laboratoire d'Ultrasons et de Dynamique des Fluides Complexes, Université Louis Pasteur, URA 851 du CNRS, 67070 Strasbourg cedex, France
²  Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Physique, Université Joseph Fourier, URA 08 du CNRS, 38402 Saint Martin d'Hères cedex, France
³  Laboratoire Léon Brillouin, CEA-CNRS, CEN Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France

Abstract
The short range molecular structure of agarose in the sol state and k-carrageenans in the gel state have been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering ([MATH]). Agarose in the sol state possesses a rod-like conformation (minimum persistence length of 14 nm) with a mass per unit length consistent with a single helix. The existence of a double helix in the gel state is accordingly questioned. Agarose in sols from DMSO/WATER blends still exhibits the same rigidity yet the mass per unit length varies with solvent composition. It is surmised that this arises from strong complexation of agarose by DMSO which has consequences on the gelation propensity. Results obtained with k-carrageenans gels are accounted for by an array of rigid rods consisting of two populations of differing cross-sectional radius.

© EDP Sciences 1993