How to Apply Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) in the Coating Industry?
Product name: Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) CAS No.: 9004-62-0
Other name: hydroxyethyl cellulose ether; 2-hydroxyethylcelluloseether; ah15
Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is a kind of white or light yellow, odorless and non-toxic powder, which is manufactured by etherification of alkaline cellulose and ethylene oxide (or chloride ethanol). It is a non-ionic Soluble cellulose ether. With excellent properties in thickening, suspension, binding, emulsion, film stability, dispersion, water retention, anti-microbial properties and colloid protection, etc, hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) has been widely used in a wide range of fields, including petroleum exploration, coatings, construction, medicine and food, textiles, paper-making and polymer reaction, etc.
As a non-ionic surfactant, hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) also has the following properties in addition to the properties mentioned above:
- Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is soluble in hot or cold water, and it does not precipitate at high temperature or boiling So it has a wide range of solubility and viscosity。
- The water retention capacity of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is double that of methyl cellulose (MC), and it has better flowing adjust-ability.
- Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is an excellent colloidal thickener with high-concentration electrolyte solutions, which can coexist with a wide range of other products like water-soluble polymers, surfactants and salts, etc.
- Compared with methyl cellulose (MC)and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) has the worst dispersing power but the strongest colloid protective capability.
How to apply HEC ?
- Adding HEC directly in the production process is the simplest method, which takes a shorter First, please add clean water into a large bucket equipped with a high-shear mixer. Second, please stir continuously at a low speed and slowly sift hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) into the solution uniformly and continue to stir until all the particles are soaked in the solution. Then, please add various additives such as pigments, dispersing aids, ammonia and preservative into the solution, then stir the solution until all hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is completely dissolved (the solution viscosity is significantly increased) before adding other components to the formula to react.
- Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) can also be used to make mother solution for preparation use. First, please prepare a higher-concentration mother solution, and then add it to the product. This method is more flexible because it can be directly added to the finished product, but it must be stored for an appropriate time. This method does not need a high-strain stirrer but a stirrer with normal power to keep the hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) uniformly dispersing in the solution. Then, please continue stirring until it is completely dissolved into a viscous solution. However, please be noted that the anti-fungal agent must be added to the mother solution as soon as possible.
REMINDERS from Meikai:
Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is a kind of powdered solid, so when you preparing hydroxyethyl cellulose mother solution, please pay attention to the following points :
- Consecutivestir must be kept until the solution becomes completely transparent and clear before and after adding hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC).
- Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) must besifted into the mixing tank slowly. Do not put the hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) directly into the mixing tank with a large quantities at one time or caked product.
- Please be specially noticed thatwater temperature and pH of water have an significant influence on the dissolution of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC).
(4) DO NOT add any alkaline substances to the mixture before the hydroxyethyl cellulose powder is soaked completely by water. Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) can be helpful for dissolving by raising pH only after being soaked.
(5) Please add anti-mold agent as early as possible！
(6) The concentration of mother solution should be no less than 2.5-3% (by weight) when using high-viscosity hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), otherwise, it may have difficulty in using the mother solution.
