Ultrasonic Velocity and Absorption Measurements in Egg White

Ultrasonic measurements are made in egg white to study the properties of the solution of the natural protein. The high-Q ultrasonic resonator method is used to get the ultrasonic absorption spectra over the range 0.2-10 ㎒ at 20℃. It is proportional to the 1.25th power of the frequency. The gelation process caused by heat is studied from the change in the velocity and the absorption. at 3 ㎒ using the pulse echo overlap technique over the range of 10-80℃. The absorption decreases with increasing temperature up to 60℃ where it turns up sharply and rapidly increases thereafter. The strong absorption in the gel region is described by the interaction between the solution and the network structure made of protein. Very slow variation in time elapse is observed after the temperature is quickly raised. It would be a real-time observation of the network building process and the characteristic time for the process is shown to be 400 min. A hysteresis phenomenon with respect to the temperature is observed. This phenomenon is associated with the memorizing effect of the network structure of protein of the gel.