What This Grade Is For
Thickening Agent Hydroxyethyl Cellulose is supplied by Yiyuantong Chemical as a rheology modifier and protective colloid in latex and emulsion paint. The listing covers the full viscosity ladder, so one supplier can serve a low-shear gel and a high-build mortar. The products are widely used in coatings Materials, daily chemicals and other fields.
Key Benefits
- Builds working viscosity at low addition, so the formulation carries more solids without thinning
- Available across the 300 to 200000 mPa.s range, so one approved supplier covers several of your recipes
- Holds pigment and extender in suspension through long storage, reducing hard settling at the drum bottom
- Improves brush and roller flow so the film levels out instead of keeping applicator marks
- Acts as a protective colloid during emulsion let-down, keeping the system stable against shear
- 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
- Latex paint that sags on vertical walls and leaves roller marks after the second coat
- Batch-to-batch viscosity drift that forces line operators to re-adjust every let-down
- Pigment and filler settling in storage, so the first drum poured differs from the last
- Poor open time in hot weather, which closes the wet edge before a wall is finished
Application Scenarios
- Interior and exterior architectural latex paint
- Water-based primers and sealers
- Texture and relief coatings applied by spray or trowel
- Putty and skim coats used ahead of topcoat
Who It Is For
- Architectural paint manufacturers running latex lines
- Coating formulators developing low-VOC waterborne systems
- Contract blenders supplying private-label paint brands
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 | ≥80.0 % |
| Molar Degree of Substitution | 1.8-3.0 |
| Water Content | ≤5.0 % |
| Ash Content (as sulfate) | ≤6.0 % |
| PH（1%，Solution） | 6.0～8.5 |
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
| Alkali-swellable acrylic thickeners | HEC develops viscosity without relying on neutralisation, so it is less sensitive to formulation pH swings |
|---|---|
| Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose | HEC gives better enzyme and salt tolerance in waterborne paint; HPMC is normally chosen for cement and gypsum systems |
Use Guide
- Disperse the powder into the grind or let-down stage under agitation; avoid dumping into still water
- Where a fast let-down is needed, pre-slurry in a water-miscible solvent or wet with cold water before raising pH
- Hydration is faster above pH 8; adjust alkali after the powder is fully wetted
- Check viscosity after full hydration, not during the first minutes of mixing
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
Thickening Agent Hydroxyethyl Cellulose FAQ
What viscosity grade should I order for interior latex paint?
Our HEC covers 300 to 200000 mPa.s. Tell us your target Stormer or ICI reading and the solids level you run, and we will send the matching grade for a trial.
Will the powder lump when it is added to the let-down?
Add it under agitation rather than into still water, and hydrate before the alkali is raised. We can also advise a pre-slurry step for fast lines.
Can I order more than one viscosity on the same shipment?
Yes. Mixed grade loads are normal. Give us the grades and quantities and we will quote them as one shipment.
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 Thickening Agent Hydroxyethyl Cellulose
Send the quantity, the viscosity grade and the destination port. We reply with price, lead time and the lot analysis.