Magnetic field-induced effects on the melting temperatures of polymer gels

The gel-melting temperature was observed for aqueous agarose and aqueous methyl cellulose gels which were prepared under the influence of magnetic fields up to 5 T. The exposure to magnetic fields during gelation caused the melting temperature to increase in the agarose gels (+1.0K for the 0.2 wt% gel) and to decrease in methyl cellulose gels (-3.5 K for the 0.4 wt% gel). The change in melting temperature was reduced with increasing polymer concentration and was saturated in magnetic fields below 3 T. Stable gel structures were constructed due to the exposure to magnetic fields.