What This Grade Is For
Hydroxyethyl Cellulose for Sizing Agent is supplied by Yiyuantong Chemical as a thickener and suspending agent for surfactant based personal care formulations. Hydroxyethyl cellulose is used as a sizing agent in the textile industry and as an adhesive, thickener, emulsifier and stabilizer in the electronics and light industry sectors. It is a white to yellow fibrous or powdery solid.
Key Benefits
- Thickens surfactant systems while keeping the solution clear, with transmittance at 80 percent or higher
- Prevents sedimentation of insoluble particles such as pearlisers and exfoliant beads
- Provides a smooth, non-tacky skin feel in gels, lotions and creams
- Non-ionic, so it is compatible with anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants alike
- Held in stock: 800 tonnes of HEC are carried year round, and confirmed orders ship to the named port within 3 working days
Problems It Solves
- Shampoo and body wash that thins out as soon as salt or surfactant level changes
- Suspended pearlising agents, beads or actives that sink during shelf storage
- Formulations that lose viscosity over time because of enzyme attack
- Gels that feel stringy or tacky rather than smooth on application
Application Scenarios
- Shampoo, shower gel and hand wash
- Toothpaste and oral care gels
- Liquid soap and hand sanitiser gel
- Lotions, creams and styling gels
- Shoe polish and household cleaners
Who It Is For
- Personal care contract manufacturers
- Household and industrial cleaning product brands
- Oral care formulators
Technical Features
- Non-ionic backbone, so viscosity survives salt and hard water
- Cold-water soluble, no cooking step needed in the mixing room
- Supplied from 300 to 200000 mPa.s so the grade can be matched to the process
- Molar degree of substitution of 1.8 to 3.0 for biological stability and high transmittance
- Solvent process raises the degree of substitution by 30 to 35 percent against traditional routes
Technical Data And Packing
| Product Name | Hydroxyethyl Cellulose |
|---|---|
| CAS No | 9004-62-0 |
| EINECS | 618-387-5 |
| Chemical Formula | (C2H6O2)n |
| Appearance | White or almost white, odorless, tasteless solid powder |
| Viscosity | 300-200000 mPa.s |
| Transmittance | at least 80.0 % |
| Molar Degree of Substitution | 1.8-3.0 |
| Water Content | 5.0 % max |
| Ash Content (as sulfate) | 6.0 % max |
| pH (1% solution) | 6.0-8.5 |
| Screening Rate (40 mesh) | at least 99 % |
| Packing | 25 kg per bag, inner polyethylene film, outer composite woven bag |
Packing is 25 kg per bag as standard: an inner polyethylene plastic film bag inside an outer composite plastic woven bag. Other pack sizes are arranged on request.
Raw Materials
- High alpha-cellulose refined cotton
- Wood pulp with high cellulose content
- Ethylene oxide
Manufacturing Process
- Alkalisation of refined cotton and wood pulp
- Etherification with ethylene oxide
- Acetone countercurrent washing
- Drying and milling
- 40 mesh screening
- Lot testing and packing
Quality Control
- Every lot is tested in our own laboratory against the customer specification before release
- Third-party verification is available through SGS, which we have worked with on export lots
- Certificate of analysis issued with each shipment; HPLC or NMR data supplied on request
- Acetone countercurrent washing removes process residues before drying and milling
How It Compares
| Carbomer | HEC thickens without needing neutralisation and tolerates electrolytes that can collapse a carbomer gel |
|---|---|
| Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose | The non-ionic backbone of HEC keeps viscosity stable in high-salt surfactant systems where CMC drops |
Use Guide
- Sprinkle into the water phase under agitation before surfactants are added
- Raise pH after wetting to speed hydration; full hydration gives the final clarity
- Hold under gentle agitation until the solution is free of fish eyes, then add the remaining phases
Customisation Options
- Viscosity grade selected against your process, from 300 to 200000 mPa.s
- Private label bags printed with your own label content
- Packing sizes arranged to suit your blending line
- Sample shipment by FEDEX, DHL or EMS before a production order
Certification And Inspection
- SGS third-party inspection available on export lots
- Certificate of analysis issued with every shipment
- HPLC or NMR data supplied on request
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Industry Pages
Hydroxyethyl Cellulose for Sizing Agent FAQ
Is the grade suitable for products in contact with skin and mouth?
The material is described as non-toxic, odourless and tasteless. We will send the certificate of analysis for the exact lot so your regulatory team can confirm it against local requirements.
How clear will the finished gel be?
Transmittance on our HEC is at least 80.0 percent, which supports clear and translucent gel formats.
Are you a manufacturer or a trading company?
We are a manufacturer and you are welcome to visit the plant. Our hydroxyethyl cellulose project runs at 5000 tonnes a year on an acetone countercurrent washing process.
What payment terms do you accept?
L/C, T/T, D/A, D/P, PayPal and Western Union. We have worked with China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation for many years.
How fast can you ship?
Stock items are despatched within 5 days of payment. If the grade is not in stock, production and despatch take 7 to 10 days from payment.
Get A Price For Hydroxyethyl Cellulose for Sizing Agent
Send the quantity, the viscosity grade and the destination port. We reply with price, lead time and the lot analysis.