AbstractThe rapid setting of gelatin solutions and the rapid breakdown of gels have been followed by means of cooling curves and heating curves respectively.The temperature of incipient gelation, the rate of cooling in the sol‐gel transformation, and the negative activation energy of the initial cross‐linking process are dependent on average molecular weight, and the temperature of final breakdown of the gel is a function of the low‐temperature rigidity.The temperature‐dependence of rigidity has been defined mathematically. An empirical expression has been obtained for rigidity, indicating its dependence on molecular weight and a temperature‐dependent factor, referred to as the “rigidity factor”.A two‐stage process of gelation has been suggested, involving primary and secondary cross‐linking, compatible with the independence of molecular weight of low‐temperature rigidit
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