Superelastic percolation network of polyacrylamide (PAAm)–kappa carrageenan (κC) composite

The elasticity of the polyacrylamide (PAAm)-kappa carrageenan (κC) composite was determined as a function of (w/v-%) κC content at 40 °C. The gel composites studied contained various percentages (w/v-%) of κC. The elasticity of the swollen PAAm-κC composite was characterized by using the tensile testing technique. This study investigated the elasticity and the percolation threshold of PAAm-κC composite as a function of κC content. It is understood that the compressive elastic modulus decreases up to 1 (w/v-%) of κC and then increases at contents above 1(w/v-%) of κC. The critical exponent of elasticity y was determined between 1 and 1.6 (w/v-%) of κC and found to be 0.68. The observed elastic percolation threshold is consistent with the suggested values of the superelastic percolation network.