Abstract: Highly porous konjac-glucomannan(KGM) sponges were fabricated by an electrothermic process at high temperature. Influences of electrothermic conditions and heating modes on KGM sponge's structural and mechanical properties were invesgated. Fourier transform infrared spectrum, optical microscope and tension meter were used to measure KGM sponge's functional groups, morphology structure and mechanical properties. The results showed that the optimum condition was as follows:heating 35 min at 220℃ could obtain the products with the porosity and density of 72.69% and 0.2569 g/cm³ respectively. The microscopic image of KGM sponge showed a three-dimensional (3D) network, and the main component of it was deacetyl konjac glucomannan (d-KGM). The average tensile strength and elongation at break were 0.0473 N/cm³ and 283.6%.

Key words: konjac-glucomannan, electrothermic process, porous elastomer, degradable material