What is the difference between hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose?

The difference between hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose: different properties; different uses; different solubility.

1. Different traits

Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose: white or off-white fibrous or granular powder, belonging to a variety of nonionic cellulose mixed ethers.It is a semi-synthetic, inactive, viscoelastic polymer.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose: (HEC) is a white or light yellow, odorless, non-toxic fibrous or powdered solid prepared by the etherization reaction of alkaline cellulose and ethylene oxide (or chloroethanol). It is a nonionic soluble cellulose ether.

2. Different uses

Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose: Used as a thickener, dispersant and stabilizer in the coating industry, it has good compatibility in water or organic solvents.As a paint remover; used as a dispersant in the production of polyvinyl chloride, it is the main additive for the preparation of PVC by suspension polymerization; it is also widely used in the leather, paper products industry, fruit and vegetable preservation and textile industry.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose: used as adhesives, surfactants, colloidal protectants, dispersants, emulsifiers and dispersion stabilizers.It has a wide range of applications in the fields of coatings, inks, fibers, dyeing, papermaking, cosmetics, pesticides, mineral processing, oil production and medicine.

3. Different solubility

Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose: It is almost insoluble in absolute ethanol, diethyl ether, and acetone; it swells into a clear or slightly turbid colloidal solution in cold water.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose: It has the properties of thickening, suspending, bonding, emulsifying, dispersing, and retaining moisture.Solutions of different viscosity ranges can be prepared.It has unusually good salt solubility in electrolytes.

It is recommended that you choose WELLDONE Cellulose. This is a very professional company. hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and latex powder are the leading products of the company. The company has passed the ISO9001-2000 quality system certification, and the product quality has reached the normal level. The company's “Xuzhan” brand series of products are widely used in chemical industry, construction, building materials, coatings, food, cosmetics, agriculture and other fields, the variety and quality meet the needs of domestic and foreign merchants.