Text: The common denominator for all is their ability to bind water. Hydrocolloids, as the name implies, have an affinity for water that gives them thickening capabilities. What sets hydrocolloids apart from other thickeners, however, is the fact that they are colloids and possess an affinity toward themselves that allows them to form gel networks. This combination of functions permits hydrocolloids to control syneresis, act as a binder and maintain texture -- useful properties in many processed meat applications. Wouldn¹t it be great if you didn¹t have to worry about getting scars from your wounds and burns? Wouldn¹t it be great if you had hospital style dressings at home? Wouldn¹t it be great if you had a wound dressing the made the pain go away? What if I told you that this was all possible, and easy to obtain? All of the above are features of a Hydrocolloid. Dressings that, up until recently, were used only in hospitals for burns, minor wounds, and surgery patients. Hydrocolloids are a thin dressing that is placed directly over the wound. Although it adheres to your skin, it will not adhere to the wound, which makes removal much less painful. The hydrocolloid is covered with a special absorbent material that absorbs fluid from the wound, and allows excess fluid to evaporate but at the same time is impermeable to oxygen, water, bacteria and other germs. In this way the hydrocolloid creates a moist humid wound environment, which promotes faster healing and helps prevent scarring. Because the wound is moist, no hard scab is formed. Hydrocolloids are the most natural way for the body to heal itself, and also the least damaging, as scabs leave scars and can be broken thus opening the body to new infection and damage. When the dressing is applied to the wound the person with the wound will notice that almost immediately the pain of the wound will lessen or go away. The hydrocolloid can be left there for up to several days. If it falls off, it means that the wound has produced more fluid than the dressing could handle, and a new dressing is needed. When the dressing is removed, the wound itself and the new tissues being formed will not be disturbed, although a residue from the dressing may be left on the surrounding skin. This should be gently cleaned off before a new dressing is applied. These dressings work best on wounds that are superficial granulated wounds that are releasing a low to medium amount of fluid. If you are bleeding heavily these dressing will not help you. If your wound needs a higher absorbency dressing you may want to try a hydrocolloid powder or paste, ask your doctor where you can find these and if they are right for your wound. If your wound has become infected do NOT use these dressings! Their safety has not yet been proven on clinically infected wounds! In a study that involved laceration, abrasion and small operating incision patients, a hydrocolloid dressing was compared with a non-adherent dressing. The results were as follows. Although the healing time was the same for both groups, the patients using the hydrocolloids won out overall. Those using the hydrocolloids experienced less pain, and were able to carry out normal daily activities (such as bathing) without disturbing the wound or the dressings. A great variety of applications for thickeners and stabilisers in the food industry require a broad range of products with specific properties for any given food application. Properties that can be achieved by using plant-based stabilisers are: defined viscosity, controlled phase separation, prevention of syneresis and extended stability. In addition, hydrocolloids can improve mouthfeel, reduce crystallisation during freezing, stabilise the suspension of product components. Hydrocolloids act as gelling agents, give a better spreadability to the product and help create moldable food products. The properties of non-ionic hydrocolloids such as Guar or Carob Bean Gum are constant over a wide pH range. However, a low pH value delays hydration and thus also influences the end viscosity. These non-ionic galactomannans can be used over a wide range of salt concentration and do not precipitate from solution. Increasing concentration of mono-, bi- and trivalent cations and anions, will increase the viscosity slightly. The stability is improved by complexing agents like citric, tartaric acid or phosphor acid. High sugar concentrations delay the hydration and cause a lower end viscosity. A significant thickener effect is only achieved with a concentration up to 40% sugar. Moreover, a sugar content of 5 to 10% delays the hydrolysis of the galactomannans during the cooking process or at low pH-values. Galactomannans exhibit pseudoplastic or shear-thinning behaviour. The apparent viscosity decreases with increase of shear rate as a solution is stirred. As the solution is stirred, the long molecules of the hydrocolloid loose their contact, the intramolecular network is degraded. The molecules are oriented parallel to each other, the strength of their contact decreases and on the macroscopic level, the viscosity is reduced. As the shear rate imparted on a solution is reduced, the viscosity regains its original levels. By using PROVIgel® you can benefit from numerous technological advantages of galactomannans in the manufacture of your products.

See Also: LANOLIN; PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS

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