Effects of concentration and temperature on the rheological behavior of concentrated sodium lignosulfonate (NaLS) solutions

Abstract Concentrated sodium lignosulfonate (NaLS) solutions have wide industrial applications. Therefore, the viscoelastic properties of NaLS in concentrations of 55%–63% have been investigated between 5°C and 55°C by means of a dynamic rheological technique, namely, the oscillatory rheological experiments were conducted in a rheometer in the small amplitude oscillatory mode. All solutions showed “shear-thinning” behavior over frequency. The complex viscosity ( η *) increased and the loss tangent (tanδ) decreased with increasing concentrations. Both the storage modulus ( G ′) and the loss modulus ( G ″) increased with increasing frequencies and concentrations. The change in viscoelastic behavior was probably caused by stronger aggregation effects. However, the effects of temperature on the viscoelastic properties are more complex. For 60% NaLS, G ′, G ″, and η * decreased, but tanδ increased with increasing temperatures. When the temperature exceeded 20°C, G ′, G ″, and η * increased, but tanδ decreased, and the relaxation times were increased as a function of temperature. The change in viscoelasticity as a function of temperature may also be related to intermolecular aggregation and the swelling of aggregates. The conductivity experiments indicated that the formation of a greater strength of network structures at higher levels of concentrations between 55% and 63% and temperatures between 20°C and 55°C was probably responsible for elasticity enhancement.