Ultrasonic relaxation spectra of agarose sols and gels

Abstract

Ultrasonic relaxation has been observed in agarose gels. The variation of the relaxation spectra with polymer concentration and temperature indicates that the process being perturbed by the sound wave is associated with interactions in the junction zones or aggregates. These interactions are apparently dominated by entropy and volume changes. A comparison with the ultrasonic relaxation spectra of concentrated polymer solutions indicates a very similar behaviour.