What is Hydroxyethyl cellulose?

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is a white or light yellow, odorless, non-toxic fibrous or powdery solid, prepared by etherification reaction of alkaline cellulose and ethylene oxide (or chlorohydrin).
1.Instructions
1.1 added directly at production time

1. Add clean water to a large bucket equipped with a high shear mixer.

2. Start to stir continuously at low speed and slowly sieve the hydroxyethyl cellulose into the solution evenly.

3. Continue stirring until all particles are soaked.

4. Then add antifungal agent, alkaline additives such as pigments, dispersing aids, ammonia water.

5. Stir until all the hydroxyethyl cellulose is completely dissolved (the viscosity of the solution increases significantly) before adding other components in the formula, and grind until the finished product.

1.2 Prepared with mother liquor

This method is to prepare the mother liquor with higher concentration first, and then add it to the latex paint. The advantage of this method is that it has greater flexibility and can be directly added to the finished paint, but it should be properly stored. The steps are similar to Steps 1-4 in Method 1, the difference is that there is no need to stir until it is completely dissolved into a viscous solution.

This method is to prepare the mother liquor with higher concentration first, and then add it to the latex paint. The advantage of this method is that it has greater flexibility and can be directly added to the finished paint, but it should be properly stored. The steps are similar to Steps 1-4 in Method 1, the difference is that there is no need to stir until it is completely dissolved into a viscous solution.

2.Porridge for phenology
Since organic solvents are poor solvents for hydroxyethyl cellulose, these organic solvents can be used to prepare the porridge. The most commonly used organic solvents are organic liquids such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and film formers (such as ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol butyl acetate) in paint formulations. Ice water is also a poor solvent, so ice water is often used together with organic liquids to prepare porridge. The hydroxyethyl cellulose of the porridge can be directly added to the paint, and the hydroxyethyl cellulose has been divided and swelled in the porridge. When added to the paint, it dissolves immediately and acts as a thickener. After adding, keep stirring until the hydroxyethyl cellulose is completely dissolved and uniform. Generally, porridge is made by mixing six parts of organic solvent or ice water with one part of hydroxyethyl cellulose. After about 6-30 minutes, the hydroxyethyl cellulose will be hydrolyzed and swell obviously. In summer, the water temperature is generally too high, so it is not suitable to use porridge.
3.Application field

Hydroxyethyl cellulose Used as adhesives, surfactants, colloidal protective agents, dispersants, etc.
It has a wide range of applications in paint, paint, fiber, dyeing, papermaking, cosmetics, pesticides, mineral processing, oil recovery agents, and medicine.

1. Hydroxyethyl cellulose is generally used as a thickener, protective agent, adhesive, stabilizer and additive for the preparation of emulsion, jelly, ointment, lotion, eye cleanser, suppository and tablet, and also used as hydrophilic gel and skeleton Materials, preparation of matrix-type sustained-release preparations, and can also be used as a stabilizer in food.

2. Hydroxyethyl cellulose Used as a sizing agent in the textile industry, and as an auxiliary agent for bonding, thickening, emulsifying, and stabilizing in the electronics and light industry sectors.

3. It is used as thickener and fluid loss reducer for water-based drilling fluid and completion fluid, and the thickening effect is obvious in brine drilling fluid. It can also be used as fluid loss reducer for oil well cement. It can be cross-linked with polyvalent metal ions to form a gel.

4. Hydroxyethyl cellulose product is used as a dispersant for the polymerization of petroleum water-based gel fracturing fluid, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride, etc. by fracturing. It can also be used as an emulsion thickener in the paint industry, a hygrostat in the electronics industry, a cement anticoagulant and a moisture retention agent in the construction industry. Ceramic industry glazing and toothpaste binder. It is also widely used in printing and dyeing, textiles, papermaking, medicine, hygiene, food, cigarettes, pesticides and fire extinguishing agents.

5. As surfactant, colloidal protective agent, emulsification stabilizer for vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and other emulsions, as well as latex tackifier, dispersant, dispersion stabilizer, etc. Widely used in coatings, fibers, dyeing, papermaking, cosmetics, medicine, pesticides, etc. It also has many uses in oil exploration and machinery industry.

6. Hydroxyethyl cellulose has surface active, thickening, suspending, binding, emulsifying, film-forming, dispersing, water-retaining and protective functions in pharmaceutical solid and liquid preparations.

7. It is used as a polymeric dispersant for exploiting petroleum water-based gel fracturing fluid, polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene. It can also be used as an emulsion thickener in the paint industry, a cement anticoagulant and moisture retaining agent in the construction industry, a glazing agent and a toothpaste adhesive in the ceramic industry. It is also widely used in industrial fields such as printing and dyeing, textiles, papermaking, medicine, hygiene, food, cigarettes and pesticides.