Elasticity and Failure in Composite Gels

Abstract

The mechanical behavior of composite gels consisting of spherical deformable filler particles (Sephadex beads) embedded in a gelatin gel matrix has been investigated. The shear modulus of composite gel is dependent on the shear modulus of the matrix, the deformability of the particles, and their volume fraction. Under uniaxial compression, at high strains, the importance of the filler-matrix-interface in influencing the strength of the composites was demonstrated. Failure properties of the composite were shown to be controlled by altering the chemical affinity between filler and matrix. Studies with a composite food starch gel showed similar dependence on the previously identified parameters.