Rheological Properties of Soyprotein Dope

The dynamic rheological properties of the dope and the hydrated disperson of the soyprotein, as a starting material of soyprotein fiber, were studied to investigate their viscoelastic properties. The increase of protein concentration in the both cases of the dope and the dispersion resulted in the establishment of intermolecular reaction of the protein. With the addition of alkali solution to the dispersion, the dope shows the characteristics of very lightly cross-linked high molecular weight polymer. In constrast, the dispersion shows the properties of an amorphorous polymer. The effects of chemical modification of the dispersion on the dynamic properties were also investigated.