Gelation of Chitin and Chitosan Dispersed Suspensions under Electric Field: Effect of Degree of Deacetylation

Herein, the effect of the degree of deacetylation (DD) on the gelation of the chitosan dispersed suspension as an electrorheological (ER) fluid under an electric field is presented. The fluids were prepared by dispersing the chitin and the chitosan particles having various DDs into silicone oil, and they were evaluated under various electric fields. The alignment of chitosan particles in the fluid was also observed using an optical microscope under the electric field. The formed fibrous structure between electrodes are though to continue to the viscosity increase, because an attempt to move one electrode relative to the order would be hindered by the drag of the dangling fibrils. A noteworthy result is that the region of the frequency for gel state of the ER fluids increased in the order of chitosan DD 99.3, 93.4, 73.2, 83.8, and 87.3% under electric fields while the modulus of the fluids increased in the reverse order. This order was well-matched with the result of dielectric constants and yield stresses of ER fluids. The study of influence of DD on the gelation of the chitosan dispersed suspension under an electric field shows the relevance of the chemical composition of the heteropolysaccharide (chitin-chitosan copolymer) to the rheological and electric properties of ER suspensions.