Rheology as an Effective Tool for the Comprehensive Characterization of Hydrogel Systems

conference paper

English

Hydrogels, as polymeric materials with a high-water retention capacity, find extensive applications in biomedicine, pharmacy, and the food industry. Each application imposes different requirements on the material, making rheological characterization crucial for optimizing their functional properties. This study focuses on unconventional rheometric experiments aimed at determining the mechanical properties of hydrogel materials. The optimization of viscoelastic property assessment of hydrogels in relation to relative humidity was carried out using a humidity chamber, allowing for the simulation of real-world conditions to which the material will be exposed, such as temperature, relative humidity, and mechanical load. This enables the evaluation of whether the hydrogel is suitable for the intended application. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that rheometry can effectively track the evolution of viscoelastic properties during gel swelling. Lastly, the study optimized the determination of hydrogel mechanical properties using the squeeze test, providing valuable insights into sample homogeneity and the material’s response to compression. Additionally, this work highlights the critical importance of selecting appropriate measurement parameters, as they significantly influence the accuracy and reliability of the results.

Rheology, hydrogel, humidity chamber, squeeze test

KOUŘILOVÁ, L.; SMILEK, J.; KADLEC, M.; PEKAŘ, M.; SEDLÁČEK, P.

1. 7. 2025

AIP Publishing

United States of America

978-0-7354-5216-9

Novel Trends in Rheology X

3400

0094-243X

AIP conference proceedings

United States of America

040006-1

040006-8

135

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0282175