ABSTRACT

The relevance of rheology to polysaccharide studies concerns both their practical and their fundamental aspects.

The capacity of polysaccharides to extensively modify the rheology of aqueous media into which they are introduced, even at fairly low concentrations, is the basis of their ‘‘functional properties’’ as thickening and gelling agents. It is also involved inmany other types of applications, such as encapsulation, controlled release, etc. Some degree of rheological characterization is essential in particular to evaluate the potential uses of a polysaccharide as extracted from a natural source or subsequently modified.