The difference between hydroxypropyl methylcellulose HPMC and hydroxyethyl cellulose

The difference between hydroxypropyl methylcellulose(HPMC) and Hydroxyethyl Cellulose(HEC): Different Properties, Different Applications, Different Solubility.

HPMC

1. Different properties:

Hydroxypropyl methy lcellulose HPMC: white or similar white fiber or granular powder, belonging to various nonionic cellulose mixed ethers. It is a semi-synthetic, inactive viscoelastic polymer.

Hydroxyethyl Cellulose HEC: white or yellow, odorless, non-toxic fiber or powder solid. It is made by etherification of alkaline cellulose and ethylene oxide (or ethylene chlorohydrin). It belongs to nonionic soluble cellulose ethers.

Hydroxyethyl Methyl Cellulose

2. Different applications:

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose HPMC: As a thickener, dispersing agent and stabilizer in the coating industry, it has good solubility in water or organic solvents. PVC is used as a paint remover for the preparation of PVC by suspension polymerization, and is widely used in leather, paper products, fruit & vegetable preservation and textile industries.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose HEC: To be used as binder, surface active agent, colloid protective agent, dispersing agent, emulsifier and dispersion stabilizer, etc. It is widely used in the fields of paint, ink, fiber, dyeing, papermaking, cosmetics, pesticides, mineral processing, oil recovery and medicine.

3. Different Gel temperatures:

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose HPMC: The gel temperature is 65°C, special models can be customized to 70°C,

Hydroxyethylcellulose HEC: The gel temperature is 90°C. Based on the high gel temperature, it is more stable in case of special weather during construction.

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose

5. Different solubility conditions:

Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose HPMC: Almost insoluble in absolute ethanol, ether, acetone; soluble in clear or slightly cloudy colloidal solution in cold water.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose HEC: It has thickening, suspending, sticking, emulsifying, dispersing, moisturizing and other properties, to produce solutions with different viscosity ranges, and has excellent salt solubility to electrolytes.