A cascade model for the network of coupled two-component polymer gels is presented. The network formation is assumed to be primarily due to the interaction between the functional groups of two unlike polymers. The gel modulus G versus polymer concentration C-0 curve is constructed using the cascade formalism. The variation of G versus C curves with respect to the concentration ratio r of the two components is found to be the characteristics of mixed gels. The model parameters can be obtained by fitting G versus C curves using a nonlinear least-squares method (the gel-modulus approach). The approach is applied to the experimental data for galactomannan/xanthan and glucomarman/xanthan mixed gels. Finally we discuss the gel point predicted by the cascade model. The critical concentration C-0 for the gel point is strongly dependent on r and the functionalities for both polymers. The C-0 versus r curve is easily obtained by experiment, and can be used to evaluate the model parameters (the gel-point approach). The experimental data for galactomannan/xanthan mixed gels is tested to demonstrate the validity of the gel-point approach. The advantages and limitations of both approaches are discussed. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.