Morphology and shear viscosity of aqueous two-phase biopolymer-surfactant mixtures

The relation between composition, rheology, and morphology in phase separated pullulan-sodium dodecyl sulphate systems containing sodium chloride has been investigated using rheo-optical methods. The rheological measurements showed that the apparent viscosity of these aqueous two-phase systems depends on the chemical composition of each phase, their volumetric composition, and the viscosity ratio of the separated phases. Optical observations revealed a droplet like morphology over a wide range of shear rates at low to moderate volume fractions of pullulan-rich phase. In some mixtures, string phases were observed at higher volume fractions of pullulan-rich phase and shear rates. Simultaneous analysis of the rheological data and observed structures at different shear rates/compositions indicates a close link between rheology and morphology of aqueous two-phase systems and provides a simple tool for predicting morphology on the basis of rheological data.