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CELLOSIZE HEC | Premium Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Supplier

Welcome to the ultimate resource on Cellosize HEC, a high-performance, non-ionic cellulose ether. This guide delves into the core aspects of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, from its complex manufacturing process to its vast applications across numerous industries. Whether you're a formulator in the paint industry, a researcher in personal care, or a procurement manager looking for hydroxyethylcellulose for sale, this page provides the expert insights, technical data, and trusted information you need. Our goal is to demonstrate why JINCHANGSHENG CHEMICAL is your premier partner for high-purity Cellosize HEC.

Industry Landscape: The Growing Demand for Hydroxyethyl Cellulose

The global Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) market is on a significant upward trajectory. According to recent market analysis, the market size was valued at approximately USD 1.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% to 5.5% from 2024 to 2030. This growth is propelled by several key factors:

Booming Construction Sector: Increased global infrastructure projects and residential construction drive demand for HEC in cement, mortars, and tile adhesives for its superior water retention and workability properties.
Advancements in Paints & Coatings: The shift towards water-based, low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints has made Cellosize HEC an indispensable rheology modifier, ensuring optimal thickness, stability, and application feel.
Personal Care & Cosmetics Innovation: Consumers' demand for high-quality cosmetics and toiletries fuels HEC's use as a thickener and stabilizer in shampoos, lotions, and gels.
Expansion in Oil & Gas: HEC is a critical component in drilling fluids and fracturing fluids, providing viscosity control and reducing fluid loss in demanding downhole conditions.

HEC Global Market Application Share (Estimate)

This evolving landscape underscores the necessity for a reliable supply of high-quality HEC. Manufacturers who can guarantee consistency, purity, and tailored performance characteristics—like us at JINCHANGSHENG CHEMICAL—are pivotal to the success of these industries.

CELLOSIZE HEC | Premium Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Supplier

Unveiling the Manufacturing Process: From Raw Cellulose to Refined HEC

The quality of Cellosize HEC is intrinsically linked to its manufacturing process. At JINCHANGSHENG CHEMICAL, we employ a state-of-the-art, meticulously controlled process that conforms to ISO 9001 standards, ensuring every batch meets the highest levels of quality and consistency. The primary raw material is high-purity refined cotton or wood pulp, chosen for its high alpha-cellulose content.

Our Rigorous HEC Production Workflow

Alkalization: High-purity cellulose is treated with a concentrated sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution to produce swollen, reactive alkali cellulose. This step is crucial for activating the cellulose backbone.

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Etherification: The alkali cellulose reacts with ethylene oxide under controlled temperature and pressure in a specialized reactor. This chemical reaction grafts hydroxyethyl groups onto the cellulose chain, forming Hydroxyethyl Cellulose. The degree of this reaction determines the Molar Substitution (MS), a key performance parameter.

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Neutralization & Purification: The crude HEC product is neutralized with an acid. It then undergoes a multi-stage washing process with hot water and solvents to remove residual salts and by-products like glycols, ensuring high purity (>99%).

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Drying & Milling: The purified HEC is carefully dried to a specific moisture content and then milled and sieved to achieve a consistent particle size distribution. This step is vital for ensuring rapid and lump-free dissolution in water.

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Quality Control & Packaging: Every batch is rigorously tested in our lab for viscosity, pH, moisture content, purity, and other key parameters. Only upon passing all tests is the product packaged in moisture-proof bags for a guaranteed shelf life of 2 years.

Technical Specifications: A Deep Dive into HEC Parameters

Understanding the technical data sheet (TDS) is key to selecting the right grade of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose. Below is a comprehensive table outlining the typical specifications of our HEC products. These parameters can be customized to meet your specific formulation needs.

Parameter	Specification Range	Significance in Application
Appearance	White to off-white, free-flowing powder	Ensures no discoloration in final products like clear gels or white paints.
Viscosity (Brookfield LV, 2%, 25°C)	300 - 150,000 mPa·s	The primary measure of thickening power. Higher viscosity means greater thickening effect at the same concentration. We offer a full range of grades.
Molar Substitution (MS)	1.8 - 2.5	Indicates the degree of etherification. Higher MS provides better resistance to enzymatic degradation and improved solution clarity.
pH Value (1% Solution)	6.0 - 8.5	A neutral pH ensures compatibility with a wide range of other formulation ingredients and prevents pH drift in the final product.
Moisture Content (%)	≤ 5.0%	Low moisture content ensures accurate dosing by weight and a longer shelf life, preventing microbial growth.
Purity (as HEC, %)	≥ 99.0%	High purity minimizes the presence of inactive salts and by-products, leading to cleaner formulations and more predictable performance.
Water Insolubles (%)	≤ 0.5%	Indicates excellent solubility, resulting in clear, smooth solutions without fisheyes or gels, crucial for coatings and personal care.
Particle Size	98% pass 100 mesh	Fine, uniform particle size promotes rapid, lump-free hydration and dissolution. Surface-treated grades are available for delayed hydration.

Viscosity Comparison Across Different HEC Grades

Core Technical Advantages of JINCHANGSHENG HEC

Choosing the right HEC goes beyond the spec sheet. It's about the performance benefits it brings to your product. Our Cellosize HEC delivers a suite of advantages:

Superior Rheology Control

Our HEC provides exceptional pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) behavior. This means products like paint are thick on the shelf but flow easily during application, then regain viscosity to prevent sagging. It's the key to a perfect balance of feel and performance.

Excellent Water Retention

In cementitious products like mortars and tile adhesives, HEC locks in water, preventing premature drying. This ensures complete cement hydration, leading to stronger bonds, reduced cracking, and extended open time for workers.

High Thickening Efficiency

Achieve your target viscosity with a lower dosage compared to many other thickeners. This leads to significant cost savings in your formulation without compromising on performance, a critical factor for those seeking hydroxyethylcellulose for sale.

Broad pH Stability

As a non-ionic polymer, our HEC maintains stable viscosity across a wide pH range (typically 2-12). This makes it highly versatile and compatible with both acidic and alkaline formulations, unlike many ionic thickeners.

Film-Forming & Protective Colloid Action

In emulsions and suspensions, Cellosize HEC acts as a protective colloid, wrapping around particles to prevent them from coalescing or settling. It also forms clear, flexible films upon drying.

Enzyme Resistance

Our high Molar Substitution grades offer enhanced resistance to enzymatic attack, which is crucial for extending the shelf life of water-based paints and other products susceptible to microbial degradation.

Application Scenarios: Where Cellosize HEC Excels

The versatility of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose makes it a cornerstone ingredient in a multitude of industrial and consumer products.

1. Paints and Coatings

This is the largest market for HEC. In latex paints, it functions as the primary thickener and stabilizer. Advantages:

Anti-Splatter: Controls rheology to minimize splashing during roller application.
Color Development: Ensures uniform pigment dispersion for true, consistent color.
Open Time Extension: Slows water evaporation, allowing for smoother application and better leveling.
Sag Resistance: Prevents paint from dripping or sagging on vertical surfaces.

2. Construction Materials

In dry-mix mortars, tile adhesives, grouts, and self-leveling compounds, HEC is a vital water-retaining and workability agent. Advantages:

Improved Adhesion: Ensures sufficient water for cement hydration, leading to a stronger bond.
Enhanced Workability: Provides a smooth, easy-to-apply consistency.
Anti-Slip: In tile adhesives, it provides initial tack to prevent tiles from sliding down walls.

3. Personal Care and Cosmetics

Thanks to its non-ionic nature and pleasant skin feel, HEC is widely used in shampoos, conditioners, liquid soaps, lotions, and creams. Advantages:

Clear Formulations: High-purity grades create crystal-clear gels.
Foam Stabilization: Enhances the quality and stability of foam in cleansing products.

Luxurious Texture:

4. Oil & Gas Industry

In oilfield applications, HEC is used in drilling, completion, and workover fluids. Advantages:

Viscosity Control: Thickens drilling mud to effectively carry rock cuttings to the surface.
Fluid Loss Reduction: Forms a low-permeability filter cake on the borehole wall, preventing fluid loss into the formation.
Minimal Formation Damage: It is a clean polymer that breaks down easily, leaving little residue to clog the oil-producing formation.

Manufacturer Comparison: Why Choose JINCHANGSHENG CHEMICAL?

When searching for hydroxyethylcellulose for sale, it's crucial to evaluate not just the product, but the partner. We provide tangible value that goes beyond the competition, demonstrating our commitment to Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T).

Feature / Service	JINCHANGSHENG CHEMICAL	Generic Supplier / Trader
Direct Manufacturing (ISO 9001)	✔	✖ (Often a trader)
In-House R&D and Customization	✔ (Tailored viscosity, particle size)	✖ (Standard grades only)
Comprehensive Technical Support	✔ (Formulation advice, troubleshooting)	Limited to basic info
Batch-to-Batch Consistency Guarantee	✔ (Strict QC on every batch)	Variable
Transparent Supply Chain & Lead Times	✔	✖ (Often opaque)
Decades of Industry Experience	✔ (Trusted since 2011)	Variable / Often new
Global Logistics & Documentation Support	✔ (We handle export docs, etc.)	Limited

Customized Solutions & Application Case Study

Tailoring Cellosize HEC to Your Needs

We recognize that one size does not fit all. Our technical team works directly with clients to develop customized HEC solutions. This includes:

Viscosity Modification: Precisely targeting a viscosity range to optimize your formulation's rheology.
Surface Treatment Adjustment: Modifying the hydration delay time to suit your mixing equipment and process, preventing lumps.
Particle Size Optimization: Providing finer or coarser powders for specific dissolution or dusting requirements.

Application Spotlight: Success in Water-Based Coatings

Client: A leading European manufacturer of architectural paints.

Challenge: The client was experiencing inconsistent viscosity and poor color acceptance in their premium low-VOC paint line, leading to customer complaints and batch rework. Their existing HEC supplier provided a product with wide viscosity variations.

Solution: Our technical team analyzed their formulation and recommended a specific grade of our Cellosize HEC with a tightly controlled viscosity range (±500 mPa·s) and a high Molar Substitution. We provided several lab-scale samples for testing.

Outcome: The client saw immediate improvements. Batch-to-batch viscosity was stabilized, reducing rework by over 90%. The high MS of our HEC improved compatibility with their associative thickeners and colorants, leading to excellent color development and stability. The client has since transitioned all their water-based lines to our HEC, citing our product consistency and technical support as key factors in their success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Building Your Trust & Expertise

1. What is Molar Substitution (MS) of HEC and why is it important?

Molar Substitution (MS) is a measure of the average number of ethylene oxide molecules that have reacted with each anhydroglucose unit on the cellulose backbone. It's a critical parameter because a higher MS generally leads to:

Improved Solubility: The polymer dissolves more readily in water.
Better Solution Clarity: Results in clearer gels, which is vital for cosmetics and clear coatings.
Enhanced Enzyme Resistance: The hydroxyethyl groups protect the cellulose backbone from being broken down by enzymes, which significantly increases the in-can stability and shelf life of products like latex paint. Our grades typically feature an MS of 1.8 to 2.5, ensuring robust performance.

2. How does the particle size of Cellosize HEC affect its dissolution?

Particle size directly impacts the speed and quality of dissolution.

Finer Particles: Dissolve more quickly due to a larger surface area but can be prone to "lumping" or forming "fisheyes" if added to water too quickly without sufficient agitation.
Coarser Particles: Dissolve more slowly but are less likely to lump, making them easier to handle in some mixing systems.

We offer various particle sizes and, more importantly, "surface-treated" grades. Surface treatment creates a temporary barrier that allows the particles to disperse fully in water before they begin to dissolve and thicken, ensuring a smooth, lump-free solution every time.

3. Is your Hydroxyethyl Cellulose compatible with other additives?

Absolutely. One of the key advantages of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose is its non-ionic character. This means it has no electrical charge and therefore does not interact with or precipitate in the presence of most salts or ionic species. It exhibits excellent compatibility with:

Anionic, cationic, and other non-ionic surfactants.
Other water-soluble polymers (like PVA).
Pigments, fillers, and binders.
Electrolytes within typical concentration ranges.

This makes it a highly robust and versatile formulator's tool.

4. What are the recommended storage and handling conditions for HEC?

To ensure a shelf life of at least 2 years, Cellosize HEC should be stored in its original, unopened packaging in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and sources of heat or humidity. Once opened, the bag should be resealed tightly to prevent moisture absorption, as this can affect its flowability and dissolution properties. Although non-toxic, standard industrial hygiene practices (wearing dust masks and safety glasses) are recommended when handling the fine powder to avoid inhalation or eye contact.

5. What is the difference between surface-treated and untreated HEC?

The core HEC polymer is the same, but the dissolution behavior is different:

Untreated HEC: Begins to dissolve and thicken immediately upon contact with water. Requires very high agitation to prevent lumps.
Surface-Treated HEC: Has a light surface cross-linking (often with glyoxal) that is pH-dependent. At neutral or acidic pH, it disperses easily without thickening. Once the pH is raised (typically to >8.5), the treatment breaks down, and the HEC dissolves rapidly and smoothly. This delayed hydration is the industry-standard method for easy, lump-free incorporation.

6. How is the viscosity of an HEC solution correctly measured?

Standardized measurement is key for quality control. The industry standard method involves a Brookfield rotational viscometer. For our products, we specify the conditions: a 2% solution by weight in deionized water, aged for a specific time (e.g., 4 hours) to ensure full hydration, and measured at a controlled temperature (25°C) using a specific spindle and rotational speed. Following this protocol ensures that viscosity readings are consistent and comparable between batches and suppliers.

7. What is your quality assurance and delivery process?

Our commitment to trust is built on a foundation of rigorous quality assurance. Every single batch of Cellosize HEC is tested against our specifications, and a Certificate of Analysis (COA) is generated. We retain a sample from each batch for future reference.

Delivery: We offer flexible packaging options (typically 25kg multi-layer paper bags with PE liner). Our logistics team has extensive experience in global shipping and can handle all necessary export documentation, ensuring a smooth delivery process to your port of choice. Typical lead times are 10-15 working days to the port of loading after order confirmation.

Partner with a Leader in Cellulose Ether Technology

Navigating the complexities of chemical procurement requires a partner that delivers not just a product, but also reliability, expertise, and a commitment to your success. At JINCHANGSHENG CHEMICAL, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality Cellosize HEC, backed by unparalleled technical support and a transparent, dependable supply chain.

Ready to enhance your product's performance and optimize your formulation costs? Contact our team today to request a sample, get a quote for hydroxyethylcellulose for sale, or discuss your specific application needs.

Get Your Custom HEC Solution Now

References & Further Reading

To further enhance your understanding of cellulose ethers and their applications, we recommend the following authoritative sources:

Journal of Applied Polymer Science: A leading academic journal frequently publishing research on the modification and application of cellulose derivatives. A search for "Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Rheology" will yield numerous peer-reviewed articles. (e.g., Wiley Online Library)
PCI (Paint & Coatings Industry) Magazine: An industry publication offering insights into formulation trends, including the use of rheology modifiers like HEC in modern coatings. (e.g., pcimag.com)
"Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives" by Klaus-Jürgen Balkow: A chapter in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry that provides a comprehensive overview of the production and industrial uses of cellulose ethers. (Available via scientific libraries and publishers).

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