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Construction Chemistry
HEC (Hydroxyethyl Cellulose)
Formula:
C29H52O21
GOST/CAS:
CAS 9004-62-0
HEC (Hydroxyethyl Cellulose) is a highly purified, non-ionic, water-soluble polymer that functions as an efficient thickening, stabilizing, binding, and film-forming agent. The product is a white to light yellowish powder that dissolves easily in both cold and hot water to form a transparent gel with adjustable viscosity. Due to its versatile chemical structure and outstanding stability, HEC is an indispensable base component in the manufacturing of cosmetics, personal care products, household chemicals, pharmaceuticals, as well as in the construction and oil drilling industries.
Applications
Paints, Coatings, and Polymers: Utilized as the primary rheology modifier for water-borne dispersion paints, varnishes, and primers. It ensures excellent leveling, prevents sagging and dripping, stabilizes pigments, and improves the hiding power of the finished paint.
Construction Chemistry and Dry-Mix Mortars: Applied in dry-mix formulations such as tile adhesives, renders, plasters, skim coats, and self-leveling underlayments. It provides superior water retention, extends open time, and enhances adhesion to various substrates.
Home and Industrial Care: Incorporated into gel-like detergents, liquid soaps, shampoos, and cleaning pastes as a thickening and foam-stabilizing agent, providing the product with a premium texture.
Oil Drilling and Completion: Used as a thickener in drilling muds and well-completion fluids, minimizing fluid loss and enhancing wellbore stability under challenging conditions.
Key Advantages
High Water Retention & Extended Open Time: Effectively retains moisture within cementitious and gypsum mixtures, preventing rapid water absorption by porous substrates. This extends the correction time for tiles and workability for plasters.
Excellent Rheological Properties: Imparts pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) behavior to formulations. Paints and mortars apply effortlessly with rollers or trowels but maintain excellent resistance to sagging on vertical surfaces.
High Stability and Compatibility: Due to its non-ionic nature, HEC remains stable across a wide pH range (2 to 12) and exhibits outstanding compatibility with most surfactants, salts, electrolytes, and polymer emulsions.
Biodegradability & Safety: Eco-friendly, non-toxic, and free from harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). It is completely safe for human health and the environment when handled according to standard industrial safety guidelines.
Storage & Transportation
- Store in dry, cool, and dark warehouse facilities in tightly closed original packaging.
- Avoid direct sunlight and exposure to moisture, as the product is highly hygroscopic and prone to caking if exposed to damp air.
- Recommended storage temperature range: from +5°C to +30°C in a moisture-protected environment.
- Transportation is permitted by all modes of covered transport, provided that temperature and humidity control regulations are met. The material is classified as non-hazardous for transport. Shelf life — 2 years.
Frequently bought together
Technical Specifications
Appearance
White to off-white fibrous or granular powder
Molecular Weight
Variable (depends on the polymer viscosity grade)
Molar Substitution (MS)
1.5 – 2.5
Moisture Content
≤ 5.0%
pH (1% water solution)
6.0 – 8.5
Heavy Metals Content
≤ 10 ppm
Supply info
- Industrial multi-layer paper bags or kraft drums with a sealed inner polyethylene liner of 25 kg net weight.
- Small-scale packaging in airtight bags of 1 kg / 5 kg is available for laboratory testing, R&D, and pilot-scale production lots.