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HPMC and HEC, both of them are a kind of cellulose ether. but what is the difference between them? HPMC VS HEC. In recent years, the output and consumption of HPMC have been increasing rapidly. HPMC is an ironic cellulose ether. it begins refined cotton after alkalization treatment. Propylene oxide and methyl chloride is the etherifying agent in the HPMC manufacturing process. After a series of reactions, get HPMC. But HEC also begins refined cotton after alkalization treatment. With acetone, HEC uses ethylene oxide as the etherifying agent. So HEC has more hydrophilic than HPMC. It is prone to absorb moisture.
This article focuses on HPMC and HEC degree of substitution (DS), appearance, solution, dispersion, ph, and application.
DS: the substituent of HPMC is Hydroxypropyl and Methoxy. The ratio of them affects HPMC properties. The higher the hydroxypropyl content, the better the water retention effect. The lower the methoxy content, the higher the gel temperature. The DS of HPMC is 1.2-2.0. But HEC substituent is Hydroxyethyl substituent. Its DS is 1.5-2.0.
Appearance: both HPMC and HEC are white powder. HPMC is a Non-ionic compound, a non-reactive viscoelastic polymer. HEC raw material is Alkaline Cellulose and Ethylene Oxide.
Solubility: HPMC is practically insoluble in absolute ethanol, ether, and acetone. HPMC is soluble in cold water and insoluble in hot water. HPMC will get gel when the temperature is up to 55-75. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose after gelation is like jelly. This gel is related to methoxy content.
HEC is soluble in hot and cold water. No precipitation at high temperatures or boiling. Wide range of solubility and viscosity characteristics and non-thermogelling properties. HEC can produce solutions with different viscosity. It has good salt-dissolving properties for electrolytes.
Dispersion: the dispersion of HPMC is better than HEC. But HEC has a stronger protective colloid than HPMC.
PH: both HPMC and HEC are stable to common acids and alkalis. Alkali can speed up its dissolution and slightly increase its viscosity. HPMC solution is stable in the range of ph = 2-12. caustic soda and lime water can not affect HPMC properties. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is stable to common salts. But when the concentration of salt solution is high, the viscosity of HPMC solution tends to increase.
Application: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose can be used in coatings, ceramics, printing inks, plastics. HPMC has construction grade, food grade, and pharmaceutical grade according to the application. The construction industry is the most widely used application for MELACOLL hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.
Low-viscosity hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is mainly used for self-leveling mortar. Its viscosity is low, although its water retention is poor. HPMC 's leveling property is good, and the mortar is dense. Medium and low-viscosity HPMC is mainly used in tile adhesives, joint fillers, anti-cracking mortars, and thermal insulation mortars. It has good constructability, a good water retention effect, and high mortar density. HPMC exists as a water-retaining agent in mortar. Its water-retaining properties prevent the paste from drying too quickly. And cracking after reapplying.
HEC is the binder, surfactant, colloidal protective agent, dispersant, emulsifier, dispersion stabilizer. Hydroxyethyl cellulose mainly apply to the coating industry. Hydroxyethylcellulose is more stable than hydroxypropylmethylcellulose for emulsion thickening.
Kima Chemical Co.,Ltd
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Feb 7,
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Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is a versatile polymer with applications in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, construction, food and cosmetics. HPMC has various functions such as thickening, stabilizing, bonding and film-forming due to its unique properties.
What is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)?
Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) is a semi-synthetic, inert, water-soluble polymer derived from cellulose. It is made by treating cellulose with propylene oxide and methyl chloride. The resulting product has hydroxypropyl (-CH2CHOHCH3) and methyl (-CH3) substituents attached to the cellulose backbone. This modification changes the physical and chemical properties of cellulose, making it soluble in water and providing various functional advantages.
What are the main features of HPMC?
Solubility: HPMC is soluble in water over a wide temperature and pH range, forming clear, viscous solutions.
Film-forming properties: Forms a flexible, transparent film after drying.
Thermal gelling: Certain grades of HPMC have thermal gelling properties, in which a solution forms a gel when heated and returns to a solution when cooled.
Thickening: HPMC solutions exhibit pseudoplastic behavior, thickening under shear stress and thinning when stress ceases.
Surface activity: HPMC can reduce the surface tension of water and improve wetting and dispersing properties.
Stability: HPMC is stable under a variety of environmental conditions, including temperature and pH changes.
Non-ionic: HPMC is non-ionic, which means it has no electrical charge, making it compatible with a variety of other compounds.
What are the common applications of HPMC?
For more Hydroxy Ethyl Methyl Celluloseinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
Pharmaceutical Industry: HPMC is widely used as a pharmaceutical excipient, as a binder in tablet formulations, as a viscosity modifier in topical formulations, as a film coating agent and as a sustained-release matrix former.
Construction Industry: In construction materials such as mortars, tile adhesives and gypsum-based products, HPMC acts as a water retaining agent, thickener and workability enhancer.
Food Industry: HPMC is used as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier in foods, including sauces, soups, and desserts.
Cosmetic Industry: Used in cosmetics and personal care products as thickeners, film formers and stabilizers in creams, lotions and hair care products.
How does HPMC function as a pharmaceutical excipient?
In pharmaceutical formulations, HPMC has multiple functions:
Binder: It helps bind the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and excipients in the tablet formulation together, ensuring tablet integrity.
Disintegrant: HPMC rapidly hydrates and swells upon contact with water, promoting tablet disintegration and thus drug release.
Sustained-release matrix former: In sustained-release formulations, HPMC forms a gel matrix that allows controlled release of the drug over an extended period of time.
Film Coating Agent: HPMC is used to coat tablets to provide protection, improve appearance and improve drug release characteristics.
What are the factors that affect the performance of HPMC in pharmaceutical preparations?
Molecular Weight: Higher molecular weight grades of HPMC tend to provide greater viscosity and film-forming properties.
Substitution level: The degree of substitution (DS) of hydroxypropyl and methyl groups on the cellulose backbone affects properties such as solubility, gelation, and film formation.
Concentration: The concentration of HPMC in a formulation affects its thickening, gelling, and film-forming abilities.
pH and ionic strength: Solution pH and ionic strength affect the solubility and viscosity of HPMC solutions.
Temperature: Temperature affects the viscosity and gelling behavior of HPMC solutions, especially in grades that exhibit thermal gelling properties.
How is HPMC used in building materials?
In the construction industry, HPMC is commonly used for:
Mortars and Plasters: HPMC acts as a water retaining agent to improve workability, adhesion and sag resistance.
Tile Adhesive: It improves the open time and bond strength of tile adhesive while reducing sagging.
Gypsum-based products: HPMC improves workability and water retention in gypsum-based formulations such as joint compounds and texture coatings.
What are the benefits of using HPMC in food?
Texture Improvement: HPMC imparts desirable textural attributes to foods such as creaminess, smoothness and stability.
Stabilization: It stabilizes emulsions, prevents phase separation and increases product shelf life.
Thickening: HPMC can thicken food formulations to enhance mouthfeel and viscosity.
Fat substitutes: In low-fat or fat-free products, HPMC can mimic the texture and mouthfeel of fat.
Gluten applications: HPMC is commonly used as a binder and structural enhancer in gluten-free baking.
Is HPMC safe to eat?
HPMC is generally recognized as safe for consumption (GRAS) by regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It has a long history of use in food and pharmaceutical applications and has no known side effects when used within prescribed limits.
What are the environmental factors associated with HPMC?
HPMC is considered biodegradable under the right conditions, although the rate of degradation may vary depending on factors such as temperature, humidity, and microbial activity. However, as with any chemical substance, the environmental impact of HPMC production and disposal should be carefully evaluated and efforts should be made to minimize its environmental footprint.
Are there any limitations or challenges with using HPMC?
Solvent dependence: HPMC often requires water or organic solvents to dissolve, which may limit its use in solvent-sensitive formulations.
pH Sensitivity: Certain grades of HPMC may exhibit pH-dependent solubility or viscosity that needs to be considered in formulation design.
Temperature Sensitivity: The thermal gelling properties of some HPMC grades may require careful control of processing conditions.
Compatibility: While HPMC is compatible with many other compounds, interactions with specific ingredients should be evaluated to avoid formulation issues.
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is a multifunctional polymer with a wide range of applications in pharmaceuticals, construction, food and cosmetics. Its unique properties, including solubility, film-forming ability and thickening effect, make it indispensable in a variety of formulations. Although HPMC has many advantages, for successful application, factors such as molecular weight, substitution level, and environmental impact must be carefully considered.
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