Dynamic-Mechanical Losses in Elastin Networks Swollen with Glycols of Various Lengths

Abstract

A Rheovibron DDV-II-C viscoelastometer was used to carry out loss tangent measurements on purified, swollen elastin networks. The diluents employed were HO(CH2CH2O)mH with m = 0–4, i.e. water, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol (2,2?-oxydiethanol), triethylene glycol (3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanediol) and tetraethylene glycol (3,6,9-trioxa-1,11-undecanediol) and the temperature range was ?120 to 40°C. The results, in particular the effects of the various diluents on the ?- and ?-transitions, are in support of the random-network model rather than the twophase liquid-drop model, for elastin in the rubberlike state.