Abstract

The rheological behaviour of alkali solubilized collagen solutions (ASCS) from calf limed splits was modeled to investigate the effects of temperatures (25, 27.5, 30 and 32.5°C) and concentration (8, 10 and 15mg/ml) on its fluid type using viscometrical rheometry. ASCS were reconstructed by using a power-law model and exhibited the typical pseudoplastic behaviour with flow behaviour index values, n<1. n increased with increasing concentration but decreased with increasing temperature. The dynamic viscoelastic properties of ASCS were determined by means of oscillatory rheometry at different pH, concentrations and temperatures in the ranges 2.5 to 8, 5-15mg/ml and 25-35°C, respectively. The values of storage modulus (G’), loss modulus (G”) and complex viscosity (η*) decreased with increasing pH from 2.5 to 7, and then increased as pH increased further. Meanwhile, G’, G”, η* and relaxation times increased with the increase of collagen concentration, but decreased with increasing temperature and behaved without regularity at 35°C.