Introduction:
Hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose is a non-ionic type of polymer, abbreviated as HEMC; it appears as a white or off-white powder, soluble in cold water but not in hot water. The solution exhibits strong pseudoplasticity and provides a high shear viscosity. HEMC is mainly used as a glue, a protective colloid, a thickener and stabilizer, as well as an emulsifying additive.
Compared with hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC) has stronger water retention, viscosity stability, mold resistance, dispersion properties, and other characteristics. It has a good anti-slip effect, a long opening time, high early strength, strong heat resistance, easy stirring, and convenient operation, and is more suitable for use in coatings and building materials.
Properties and advantages:
- Solubility: Soluble in water and some organic solvents. It can dissolve in cold water. Its maximum concentration is determined solely by viscosity. The solubility varies with viscosity; the lower the viscosity, the greater the solubility. Some brand products can be dissolved in binary organic solvents and organic solvent-water systems.
- Salt Resistance: The product is a non-ionic cellulose ether and not a polymeric electrolyte. Therefore, it remains stable in aqueous solutions in the presence of metal salts or organic electrolytes. However, excessive addition of electrolytes can lead to gelation and precipitation.
- Surface Activity: Due to the surface-active properties of aqueous solutions, they can be used as colloid stabilizers, emulsifiers and dispersants.
- Thermogel: When the product's aqueous solution is heated to a certain temperature, it becomes opaque and gels, forming a precipitate. However, upon continuous cooling, it returns to its original solution state. The temperature at which this gelation and precipitation occur mainly depends on its lubricants, suspending agents, protective colloids, emulsifiers, etc.
- Metabolism: Low metabolic activity and low odor and aroma, as they are not metabolized and have low odor and aroma, are widely used in food and medicine.
- Mold Resistance: Exhibits good mold resistance and maintains excellent viscosity stability during long-term storage.
- PH stability: The viscosity of the product's aqueous solution is hardly affected by acids or bases, and it remains relatively stable within the pH range of 3.0 to 11.0.
- Low ash content: As the product is non-ionic, it is effectively purified through hot water washing during the preparation process, resulting in an extremely low ash content.
- Shape retention: Due to the high-concentration aqueous solution of the product having unique viscoelastic properties compared to other polymer aqueous solutions, its addition has the ability to improve the shape stability of the extruded ceramic products.
- Water retention property: The product possesses hydrophilicity and the high viscosity of its aqueous solution, making it an efficient water-retaining agent.
Other properties: thickening agent, film-forming agent, adhesive, lubricant, suspending aid, protective colloid, emulsifier, etc.
Applications:
- In the field of pharmaceuticals, hydrophilic gel matrix materials are used as the components for preparing sustained-release preparations, including pore-forming agents, coating agents. They can also be used as thickening agents, suspending agents, dispersing agents, adhesives, emulsifiers, film-forming agents, and water-retaining agents in pharmaceutical preparations.
- Food processing can also be used for adhesion, emulsification, film formation, thickening, suspension aid, dispersion, and water retention.
- It is used in the daily chemical industry as an additive for toothpaste, cosmetics, detergents, etc.
- It is used as a binder for cement, gypsum and lime, and as a water-retaining agent. It is an excellent admixture for powder-based building materials.
- Hydroxyethyl cellulose is widely used as an excipient in pharmaceutical preparations, including oral tablets, suspensions, and topical formulations.
Technical Specifications
- Product Name: HEMC
- Full Name: hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose
- CAS NO.: 9032-42-2
Item | Index |
Appearance | White Powder |
Ash content,%,max. | ≤5 |
Moisture content,%,max | ≤5 |
PH(1%solution,20℃) | 5.5-7.0 |
Viscosity,(Brookfield, 2%solution in water, 20℃), mPa.s | 50-200,000 |
Methoxy content (%) | 21.0-31.0 |
Hydroxyethoxy content (%) | 4.0-12.0 |
Different specifications:
HEMC | Viscosity(rookfield mPa.s 2%water, 20℃) |
1 | 350-500 |
2 | 5500-6500 |
3 | 12000-17000 |
4 | 32000-37000 |
5 | 45000-55000 |
6 | 70000-80000 |
Packaging:
Net weight 25KG/bag. Double-layer packaging, outer layer is a composite paper bag, inner layer is a polyethylene film bag.
Storage:
Keep clean and dry, out of the direct sun and moisture.
