Effects of electrolyte concentration and counterion valence on the microstructural flow regimes in dilute cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate micellar solutions

► Behavior of dilute micellar solutions depends strongly on ionic strength. ► A critical deformation is required in order to develop shear thickening. ► Macroscopic behavior is controlled by electrostatic screening and chemical equilibrium. ► Rheological behavior of such systems can be summarized in a generalized flow diagram.