Differences of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose HPMC and hydroxyethyl cellulose HEC

There are industrial monosodium glutamate, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and hydroxyethyl cellulose, which are the most used. Among the three types of cellulose, the most difficult to distinguish is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose. Let us distinguish these two types of cellulose by their uses and functions.

As a non-ionic surfactant, hydroxyethyl cellulose has the following properties in addition to suspending, thickening, dispersing, flotation, bonding, film-forming, water retention and providing protective colloids:

1. HEC itself is non-ionic and can coexist with a wide range of other water-soluble polymers, surfactants, and salts. It is an excellent colloidal thickener containing high-concentration electrolyte solutions.

2. Compared with the recognized methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, the dispersing ability of HEC is the worst, but the protective colloid has the strongest ability.

3. The water retention capacity is twice as high as that of methyl cellulose, and it has better flow regulation.

4. HEC is soluble in hot or cold water, and does not precipitate at high temperature or boiling, so it has a wide range of solubility and viscosity characteristics, as well as non-thermal gelation.

HEC use: generally used as thickening agent, protective agent, adhesive, stabilizer and preparation of emulsion, jelly, ointment, lotion, eye clearing.

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) application introduction:

1. Coating industry: as a thickener, dispersant and stabilizer in the coating industry, it has good compatibility in water or organic solvents. as a paint remover.

2. Ceramic manufacturing: widely used as a binder in the manufacture of ceramic products.

3. Others: This product is also widely used in leather, paper product industry, fruit and vegetable preservation and textile industry, etc.

4. Ink printing: as a thickener, dispersant and stabilizer in the ink industry, it has good compatibility in water or organic solvents.

5. Plastic: used as mold release agent, softener, lubricant, etc.

6. Polyvinyl chloride: It is used as a dispersant in the production of polyvinyl chloride, and it is the main auxiliary agent for the preparation of PVC by suspension polymerization.​​

7. Construction industry: As a water-retaining agent and retarder for cement sand slurry, it makes the sand slurry pumpable. Used as a binder in plastering paste, gypsum, putty powder or other building materials to improve spreadability and prolong operation time. It is used as a paste for ceramic tile, marble, plastic decoration, as a paste enhancer, and it can also reduce the amount of cement. The water retention of HPMC can prevent the slurry from cracking due to drying too fast after application, and enhance the strength after hardening.


Post time: Oct-20-2022