The physicochemical properties of oxidized scleroglucan have been investigated in aqueous solution as a function of ionic strength and/or temperature by means of polarimetry and viscosimetry techniques. For low salt concentrations (0.2 M NaCl) a normal polyelectrolyte behaviour was detected. Increasing the ionic strength up to 5.0 M NaCl a variation of chain structure would occur. Peculiar to the system was the temperature role which resulted in an irreversible annealing whose effect became stronger as the thermal cycles were repeated: a similar annealing process was also shown in the presence of salt (NaCl).