Influence of NaClO3 on the rheological behaviour of a micellar solution of CPCl

It is now well know that a small addition of salt to a micellar solution often increases the zero-shear viscosity η₀ of the solution, the understanding of the behaviour at high salt content is more questionable. In this situation, addition of more salt induces a decrease of η₀. In this experimental work we investigate the linear and non-linear rheological behaviour of a new micellar system: CPCl (surfactant)/NaClO₃ (salt). Studies of the evolution of η₀ as well as G₀ (the elastic modulus) or τ_R (the relaxation time) are in agreement with the hypothesis of a diminution of the mean micellar length when, after the maximum η₀, the salt content increases. In the non-linear behaviour (non-Newtonian viscosity) the evolution of γ˙ _c, (which defines the occurrence of the shear thinning) with salt concentration C_S is also in agreement with such a hypothesis. Received: 29 March 1999/Accepted: 20 March 2000