Abstract
Mechanical compression properties of gels were investigated by two methods; jelly strength test and uniaxial compression test. The gels used in the present study were agar-agar gel, konjac gel, gelatin gel, heavy oil (A) gel, and salad oil gel. Apparent jelly strength JS obtained with a Nikkansui's measuring apparatus was correlated well with a gel weight concentration by a equation (sg-sg0)n for five kinds of gels tested. Both apparent elastic modulus E and rupture force σb obtained from the force-deformation curves of uniaxial compression test were also correlated well with apparent jelly strength JS in the manner. Apparent elastic modulus E was directly proportional to rupture force σb for agar-agar gel, gelatin gel, heavy oil (A) gel, and salad oil gel tested. The proportional constant, "compression rupture index" βi, is demonstrated to be useful as a parameter for evaluating the physical properties of gels.
