Studies on the sol-gel transition entropy of κ-carrageenan/water system

The sol-gel transition entropy is estimated by using a modified Clapeyron-type equation for κ-carrageenan hydrogel systems under load. The effect of alkali metal salts on the sol-gel transition behavior is also investigated. The transition temperature decreases with increasing compressional stress, while the transition entropy remains unchanged. Both the transition entropy and the transition temperature at the zero stress limit vary almost in accordance with the Hofmeister series, but the inversion occurs for RbCl and CsCl. For the gels examined, a positive correlation exists between the transition entropy and the transition temperature at the zero stress limit.