Main Characteristic Of Hydroxyethyl Methylcellulose

What is hydroxyethyl methylcellulose (HEMC)?

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Hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC) is also named as methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (MHEC). It is a white, grayish-white, or yellowish-white granules.

It is a non-ionic cellulose ether derived from the addition of ethylene oxide to methylcellulose. It is produced from a natural renewable polymer such as wood pulp or cotton.

HEMC can be used as a highly efficient water retention agent, adhesives and film-forming agent, stabilizer, etc.

It is widely used in different industrial applications such as oil drilling, construction, and building, paint and coating, pharmaceutical, etc.

HEMC can be modified according to customers&#; requirement and still have its good anti-sagging property and good workability after modification.

Looking to get HEMC for industrial use? Contact a reliable hydroxyethyl methylcellulose supplier for the best deals.

Characteristics of HEMC

HEMC has various features. They include:

1. Appearance

HEMC can be either white, pale yellow or yellowish-white, or grayish-white. It is also odorless.

2. Solubility

HEMC is soluble in water (cold or hot water). Although HEMC is insoluble in the most organic solvent but soluble in a binary organic solvent and organic solvent water system.

Its highest concentration depends on the viscosity and its solubility varies with viscosity. The lower the viscosity, the greater the solubility and vice versa.

3. PH stability

HEMC is stable within the range of 3.0 &#; 11.0 and its viscosity is hardly affected but a PH value out of this range will decrease its viscosity.

4. Metabolism

HEMC is an inert substance and its odorless. It is widely used in food and medicine applications due to its inability to undergo metabolism.

5. Surface Activity

It can be used as a dispersant, protective agent, and emulsifier due to its surface-active function in an aqueous solution.

6. Mildew Resistance

In the long term storage, HEMC is a good mildew resistance due to its good viscosity stability.

Its mildew resistance capacity is higher than the hydroxyethyl cellulose.

7. Water Retention

HEMC serves as an effective water retention agent due to its high viscosity in aqueous solution.

Its water retention capacity is greater than the methylcellulose.

8. Ash Content

Hot water washing is used in the preparation process of HEMC, thereby making the ash content very low.

9. Thermal Gel

When the HEMC solution is being heated to a certain temperature, it becomes less transparent with the formation of precipitate and gel but if cooled, it goes back to its original state of solution.

Common Uses of HEMC

Hydroxyethyl methylcellulose can be used as:

Ø Adhesive

Ø Protective colloid

Ø Thickening agent

Ø Film-forming agent

Ø Emulsifier

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Ø Lubricant

Ø Suspending agent

Industrial Applications of HEMC

HEMC is widely used in different industries, which are:

· Polymerization

· Ceramic

· Cosmetics

· Construction

· Food and Beverages

· Pharmaceuticals

· Paint and Coatings

· Ink and Oil Drilling

Summary

Hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC) as said earlier is a derivative of methylcellulose. It is a non-ionic cellulose ether produced from the raw material of high purity cotton.

Its odorless characteristics and inability to metabolize makes it widely used in food and medicine applications.

HEMC water retaining capacity and thickening ability makes it suitable for water-based latex painting, ink and oil drilling, construction materials, etc.

As it is widely used in diverse applications, getting HEMC from a reputable hydroxyethyl methylcellulose supplier assures you of the best product for personal or industrial use. 

Methyl Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, also known as Methylcellulose and colloquium, is an organic compound methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose uses in various cosmetic and medical applications, the primary one being as a thickening agent. In decorative applications, it's found most often as a component of toothpaste and cough syrups. The compound is tasteless and odorless, and in medicine, it is ingested by patients to relieve constipation, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids. Here are top uses methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose

1. Thickening agent

Methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose uses to thickener in cosmetic products such as shampoos and conditioners because it can form a film on hair strands. This film makes hair appear smooth and shiny. In addition, the material coats the hair strands to protect them from water damage. Because it is water-soluble, methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose does not cause build-up on hair strands after repeated use of the product containing it.

2. Medicine

You may have taken methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose without even knowing it. That's because this substance has been used in manufacturing pharmaceutical products for decades. It works as an excipient (a sense included with an active drug that binds together all ingredients). Furthermore, methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose can be used to coat pills and help slow down their release into the body.

3. Binding agent

Methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose is an excellent binding agent or adhesive because it forms a gel when mixed with water. The substance is often used in the manufacture of pills and capsules because it binds together different pill components to create uniform tablets that are easy to swallow.

4. Paper Production

Due to the low toxicity of the compound and its ability to improve the properties of paper while decreasing production costs, MHE has gained wide acceptance in the paper manufacturing industry. It can be used as a dry strength agent in paper production to increase tensile strength without increasing gram mage; it can also be used as a pigment binder in paper coatings and water retention agents in paper due to its good properties as a dispersing agent.

5. Dispersing Agent.

When mixed with other chemicals, this compound works as a dispersing agent because it absorbs water to form a gel while keeping the ingredients in suspension. This makes it useful in various applications, including household products like laundry detergent, foods like whipped cream, cosmetics like toothpaste, and pharmaceuticals like cough syrups or eye drops.

6. Soil Stabilizers.

Methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (MHEC) is used as a soil stabilizer to increase the yield of crops on marginal land and in areas where irrigation is not practical. The product can be mixed with water and applied to soil to improve moisture retention during dry periods or when rainfall is sparse. When incorporated into fertilizer formulas, MHEC allows nutrients to remain available to plants over more extended periods than untreated fertilizers.

7. Moisturizer and surfactant

Methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (MHEC) is also used as a moisturizer and surfactant in cosmetics, baby lotions, shampoos, and bath oils. A surfactant is a wetting agent that lowers the surface tension of liquids and allows them to spread over a surface. It can be used as an emulsifier that keeps water-based and oil-based ingredients mixed in cosmetics.

8. Herbicide

Some farmers use Methylcellulose as an herbicide. When mixed with water and sprinkled on certain plants, it can help prevent growth or kill the plant entirely. The gel-like substance helps the herbicide stay in place without being washed away by water or carried away by the wind.

9. Concrete Mixes

Concrete mixes using Methylcellulose are commonly used for their smoothness and strength. Methylcellulose is used to coat the interior surface of concrete pipes, giving them a uniform thickness that reduces wear over time. This method also produces lines resistant to cracking when exposed to water, heat, or other harsh conditions.

10 Food Production

Methylcellulose is commonly used as an ingredient in the production of commercially-made ice cream due to its ability to stabilize the product. It serves as an alternative to gelatin and vegetable gum such as guar gum and locust bean gum. The chemical compound is also added to baked goods, salad dressings, and salad gums. It helps prevent sugar crystallization and increases the shelf life of food products by controlling moisture content.

11. Cement

Methylcellulose helps increase the efficiency of cement by prolonging water retention and hydration reactions. This helps reduce the amount of glue required during construction projects, ultimately lowering costs. The chemical compound can also be added to concrete mixes to improve their structural properties, such as flexural strength, compressive strength, and tensile strength.

 12. Oil drilling

Methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose uses is also used in oil drilling operations to thicken liquids used in the exploration process. This helps ensure that the fluid can be pumped through pipes without dripping or spilling, making them less effective at their intended function.

13. Cosmetics

Methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose is found in many cosmetic products, including hair sprays, shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, and soaps. Like other uses for methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, it's used to increase the viscosity of these products and make them easier to apply.

14. Paints and coatings

Methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, also known as MHEC and Methylcellulose, is a thickening agent used in paints and coatings. The chemical compound can help prevent paint from sagging and dripping when it dries. The combination can also help provide the color with extra adhesion, making it helpful in constructing buildings. MHEC is commonly used as a thickening agent in decorative paints. Decorative paints are not as strong as structural paints, so they need thickening agents to help them adhere to walls and other surfaces without breaking apart or peeling away. MHEC provides water resistance to decorative paints, making it more difficult for walls to become damaged by exposure to water. It also helps make paint that has been applied easier to clean.

Wrapping Up

The most significant methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose uses include its use in the production of adhesives, cosmetics, paper and textiles, pharmaceuticals, paint, and a host of other industrial applications.