This article investigates the viscosity behavior of new membrane dope solutions of poly(ether sulfone) (PES) and dimethylformamide with low-molecular-weight halogenated lithium bromide (LiBr) additives prepared with two different techniques: (1) a microwave (MW) technique and (2) a conventional heating (CH) technique. In addition, the influence of different concentrations of anhydrous halogenated LiBr additives (0-5 wt %) on the viscosity behavior is analyzed. The viscosity of the dope solutions was assessed with a conical rheometer equipped with a high-viscosity adapter. The results revealed that the pure PES solutions prepared by the MW and CH techniques exhibited pseudoplastic and Newtonian behavior, respectively. Both the MW and CH PES solutions containing the LiBr additives exhibited dilatant behavior, which obeyed the power law. The apparent viscosity of all the dope solutions prepared with the MW technique was lower than that of those prepared with the CH technique. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.