Influencing Factors on Sodium carboxymethylcellulose Viscosity

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) viscosity can be influenced by several factors, including:

1. Concentration: NaCMC viscosity increases with increasing concentration. This is because higher concentrations of NaCMC result in greater molecular entanglement, which leads to increased viscosity.
2. Molecular weight: NaCMC with higher molecular weight generally has higher viscosity than lower molecular weight NaCMC. This is because higher molecular weight NaCMC has longer chains, resulting in greater molecular entanglement and increased viscosity.
3. Temperature: NaCMC viscosity generally decreases with increasing temperature. This is because higher temperatures cause the polymer chains to become more mobile, resulting in decreased viscosity.
4. pH: NaCMC is most viscous at a pH of around 7. Higher or lower pH values can result in decreased viscosity due to changes in the ionization and solubility of the NaCMC molecules.
5. Salt concentration: The presence of salts can affect NaCMC viscosity, with higher salt concentrations generally leading to decreased viscosity. This is because the salts can interfere with the interactions between the NaCMC chains, resulting in decreased molecular entanglement and viscosity.
6. Shear rate: NaCMC viscosity can also be influenced by the rate of shear or flow. Higher shear rates can result in decreased viscosity due to the breakage of molecular entanglements between the NaCMC chains.

Understanding these factors and how they influence NaCMC viscosity is important for optimizing its use in various applications, such as in food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products.