Abstract: In textile printing processes, metal ions in the hard water or metal complex dyes will influence its viscoelastic properties which are determined by that of original paste. This essay investigates the effects of four metal ions (calcium ion, magnesium ion, copper ion, ferric ion) on the viscoelastic behaviors of sodium alginate (SA) by steady shear and dynamic scanning tests. The results show that Ca2+, Cu2+ and Fe3+ influence the viscoelastic properties of SA more strongly than Mg2+ does. When the concentration of Ca2+, Cu2+ and Fe3+ is between 0ppm and 300ppm, there will be a slight change in viscoelastic properties of the metalion paste. When the concentration is higher than 300 ppm, the metalion paste’s elastic effect will become stronger little by little and its elastic behaviors more prominent with the increase of the metal ions’ concentration.