Strain Hardening Properties of Polymeric Materials for Artificial Blood Vessels - A Research Study Investigating the Strain Hardening Properties of Alginate and Xanthan Gum
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Program
Learning and leadership (MPLOL), MSc
Publicerad
2020
Författare
Hjalmarsdottir, Hekla
Nilsson, Kristina
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
Biomaterials and artificial body tissues are a part of life science and a field where
there is always room for new inventions and improvement. Previous research shows
that viscoelastic properties like strain hardening are important to consider in order
to develop artificial body tissue. Therefore, this research study investigates the
strain hardening properties of hydrogels based on the polysaccharides alginate and
xanthan gum. The investigation was conducted by examining the polysaccharides
rheologically in small and large amplitude oscillatory shear. The results indicate
that both alginate and xanthan gum start showing strain hardening behavior at
high strain (10%-100%). Therefore it can be suitable for future artificial soft body
tissue engineering. Alginate was tested with ionoprinting as well to see if it is possible
to insert local stiffness in polysaccharides, which the study concludes is possible.
A lesson plan for a laboratory session in Swedish upper secondary school was developed to increase public engagement and knowledge of viscoelasticity and strain
hardening properties.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Alginate , biomaterial , hydrogel , ionoprinting , polymer , rheology , strain hardening , viscoelasticity , xanthan gum