The gelation of k-carrageenan alone (0.6%) is also seen in Fig. 2.
No change in G0 occurred until the temperature decreased to 30 C,
causing gelation. This is similar to observations by Ould Eleya and
Turgeon (2000a). As the ionic concentration increased from 50 to
250 mM NaCl, the final modulus of carrageenan gels increased from
1.7 to 5.6 kPa. This was mainly due to the cations shielding the
electrostatic repulsion of the sulphated side groups of the carrageenan.
The shielding effect promotes the binding and aggregation
of helixes leading to an increase in the modulus (Michel, Mestdagh,
& Axelos, 1997). A comparison between the final storage modulus of
carrageenan gels alone (1.7e5.6 kPa), and carrageenan continuous
gels with an interdispersed protein phase (45e58 kPa), reflected
the filler effect of dispersed protein particles in the carrageenan
phase.