Water–collagen interactions: Calorimetric and mechanical experiments

The influence of hydration of rat‐tail tendons has been studied by measuring the heat involved in the water fixation deplending on the degree of hydration. The modulus and damping dependences have been measured when changing the temperature for different water uptakes. In situ hydrations have been realized. Evidence of several states of water absorption has been dervied from both calorimetic and dynamic mechanical experiments. A model has been proposed taking into account the energies corresponding to the different regimes of fixation.