Description

Technical Parameters

Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC for short) is a non-ionic water-soluble cellulose ether, which is modified from natural cellulose (usually derived from wood pulp or cotton linters) through etherification reaction. The introduction of hydroxyethyl groups into its molecular structure endows it with good water solubility, thickening property, film-forming property and stability, making it widely used in many industrial fields.

Product Introduction

Characteristics and Application Fields of HEC

key characteristics

Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a non-ionic soluble cellulose ether with the following key characteristics:
Solubility: It is soluble in both hot and cold water, does not precipitate at high temperatures, and has a wide applicable temperature range.
Compatibility: Due to its non-ionic structure, it can coexist with various water-soluble polymers, surfactants and salts, and is particularly suitable for high-concentration electrolyte solutions.
Water retention and rheology: Its water retention capacity is better than that of methyl cellulose, with good flow adjustability and non-thermal gelation property.
Protective colloid ability: It has outstanding protective colloid ability among cellulose ethers, while its dispersing ability is relatively weak.

Application Fields

Coating Industry

As a thickener, stabilizer, and leveling agent in water-based coatings (such as latex paints, interior and exterior wall coatings), it can improve the viscosity, fluidity, and workability of coatings, prevent pigment settlement, and enhance the uniformity and gloss of the coating film

Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

In products like shampoos, body washes, creams, and toothpaste, it is used as a thickener, emulsion stabilizer, and moisturizer. It can increase the viscosity, texture, and stability of products, while enhancing the moisturizing effect on skin or hair.

Building Materials

In building materials such as cement mortar, putty, and tile adhesive, it acts as a water-retaining agent and thickener, reducing rapid water evaporation, extending construction time, and improving the bonding strength and crack resistance of materials.

Petroleum Industry

Used as a thickener and fluid loss reducer in drilling fluids, it can increase the viscosity of drilling fluids, reduce the filtration of drilling fluids into the formation, protect the stability of the wellbore, and facilitate the carrying of cuttings.

Specifications of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC)

Specifications for Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) and Related Derivatives

The specifications of hydroxyethyl cellulose and its derivatives (such as carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose) can be divided from the perspectives of performance indicators and application characteristics:

Basic Performance Indicators: Taking carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose as an example, its specifications may involve viscosity parameters, such as 400 viscosity, 4000 viscosity, 20,000 viscosity, etc. These parameters affect its viscosity and stability in solution.

Application-related Characteristics: As a derivative of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC) in the construction field, its specifications may be related to the plastic shrinkage cracking performance, bulk density and capillary water absorption of cement mortar, and it needs to be compounded with other additives (such as polypropylene fibers) to achieve specific effects.

Product Packaging

Packaging Specifications and Capacities

Application Field	Industrial/Construction	Food/Pharmaceutical	Laboratory/Scientific Research
products
Common Packaging Specifications	25kg/bag, 50kg/barrel	1kg/bag, 5kg/bag, 10kg/box	100g/bottle, 500g/bottle, 1kg/bottle
Packaging Form	Woven bag/iron barrel	Composite paper bag/carton	Glass reagent bottle/aluminum foil bag
Remarks	Large specifications suitable for bulk procurement	Complies with food contact material safety standards (e.g., FDA)	Precision dispensing with quality inspection reports attached