Rheological characteristics of composites based on carboxymethyl chitosan
 
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Biomaterials and Cosmetics Research Group, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Gagarin 7, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2025-01-28
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-02-24
 
 
Publication date: 2025-02-26
 
 
Corresponding author
Katarzyna Lewandowska   

reol@umk.pl
 
 
Engineering of Biomaterials 2025;(173):01
 
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ABSTRACT
Composite formation is a widely used method to modify polymer performance because such systems can combine the advantageous properties of each ingredient. This research evaluates the rheological properties and structure of biopolymer composites based on carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), with various additions of an aqueous dispersion of α-chitin (ChA) and glycerin (GLY). Composites containing carboxymethyl chitosan, α-chitin dispersion, and glycerin are designed for potential cosmetic and/or biomedical applications. The rheological properties of carboxymethyl chitosan, α-chitin aqueous dispersion, and their mixtures were determined using a ROTAVISC lo-vi Complete rotational viscometer in the temperature range of 25-40ºC and under various shear rates (1.3-33 s-1). The activation energy of the viscous flow and the rheological parameters from the power law were calculated and analyzed using Arrhenius plots and flow curves, respectively. As part of this investigation, composite films were prepared and characterized using infrared analysis. The studies conducted classified the prepared systems as non-Newtonian liquids that exhibit a shear-thinning effect (i.e. typical pseudoplastic fluids). The results revealed that the introduction of chitin whiskers as an aqueous dispersion into the CMCS matrix significantly altered the rheological properties of the tested composites. These changes were attributed to the mutual interactions between the polymer components and the low-molecular-weight additives.
eISSN:3071-7825
ISSN:1429-7248
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