Oct . 16, 2025 14:50 Back to list
Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) quietly powers a lot of everyday products—paints that don’t sag, shampoos that feel silky, drilling fluids that keep cuttings suspended. I’ve spent enough time in labs and on plant floors to say this: real-world performance beats brochure talk. And lately, demand for high-consistency HEC is rising as water‑borne systems dominate.
Origin: NO.1 BUILDING, TECHNOLOGY CERTER, HIGH-TECH ZONE, SHIJIAZHUANG CITY, HEBEI PROVINCE, CHINA.
| Chemical name | Hydroxyethyl cellulose |
| Molecular formula | (C2H6O2)x |
| Brookfield viscosity (mPa·s) | 50,000–100,000 (≈2% solution, 25°C; method per ASTM D2196/ISO 2555) |
| Moisture | ≤5% |
| Residue (ash) | ≤5% (ISO 3451, typical) |
| Gel temperature | 62–70°C |
Typical dosage: 0.2–1.0% for paints; 0.3–0.7% for mortars; 0.5–1.5% in gels (real-world use may vary). Hydration tip: disperse into vortexed water, slightly alkaline pH (~8) helps. Avoid dumping big bags at once—lumps are the enemy.
Materials: purified cellulose, sodium hydroxide (to form alkali cellulose), ethylene oxide for etherification, then solvent washing (often IPA/water), neutralization, drying, milling, sieving.
Method highlights: controlled molar substitution to tune solubility and viscosity; slurry process to limit by‑products; gentle drying to protect molecular weight.
Testing standards used on lots: Brookfield viscosity (ASTM D2196/ISO 2555), pH (ASTM E70), moisture (ASTM E203 or loss-on-drying), ash (ISO 3451), particle size (ASTM E11). Service life: sealed, dry storage—around 24 months, then re-qualify.
Paints: A South Asia interior matte line swapped in cellosize hec at 0.6% (on total) and reported +18% KU build at equal PVC, better edge coverage, and fewer roller marks. Lab KU tracked via Stormer; flow by ASTM D4400.
Mortar: Tile adhesive plant in the Gulf bumped cellosize hec from 0.35% to 0.45% during summer—open time improved ~6–8 minutes (EN 12004), without slump penalties.
| Vendor | Viscosity grades | Moisture/ash | Certifications | Lead time | Price level |
| JZ Chemical (HEC) | ≈20k–100k mPa·s | ≤5% / ≤5% | ISO 9001; REACH-ready | 2–4 weeks (typ.) | $ (value) |
| Dow (Cellosize) | Broad, QP/QP-300 series | tight controls | ISO 9001/14001 | stock/contract | $$$ |
| Ashland (Natrosol) | Paint & personal care | low moisture options | ISO 9001; cosmetic GMP | planned | $$–$$$ |
If you need tighter lot-to-lot flow or global approvals, premium brands have an edge; for cost-sensitive builds, cellosize hec from JZ often hits the sweet spot.
Final aside: test in your own system. Shear history and pigments can skew viscosity more than you’d think.
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