Rheology HEC Powder Thickener Paint Surfactant Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose

HEC - Introduction
Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a nonionic, water-soluble polymer widely used in industries such as architectural coatings, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and household chemicals. It has thickening, bonding, emulsifying, dispersing, and stabilizing properties, and can retain moisture, form thin films, and provide a protective colloid effect. It is readily soluble in both cold and hot water and can provide solutions with a wide range of viscosities. Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a nonionic, water-soluble polymer produced from cellulose, a natural polymer, through a series of chemical processes. It is a slightly yellowish or white, odorless, and tasteless powdered solid.

Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) Applications

Latex Paint: Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) is the most commonly used thickener in latex paints. In addition to thickening latex paints, it also emulsifies, disperses, stabilizes, and retains water. It is characterized by its significant thickening effect, excellent color development, film-forming properties, and storage stability. Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) is a non-ionic cellulose that can be used over a wide pH range. It has good compatibility with other ingredients in the composition, such as pigments, additives, and fillers. Paints thickened with HEC exhibit good rheological properties at various shear rates and exhibit pseudoplastic properties. Application methods include brushing, mixing, and spraying. It offers excellent workability, is less prone to dripping, sagging, and spattering, and exhibits excellent leveling.

Petroleum Extraction: In oil extraction, high-viscosity HEC is primarily used as a viscosifier in completion and finishing fluids. Low-viscosity HEC is used as a fluid loss additive. Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) acts as a thickener in various muds used in drilling, completion, cementing, and fracturing operations, enhancing fluidity and stability. During drilling, it improves the mud's sand-carrying capacity and extends drill bit life. In bottom-solids completion and cementing fluids, HEC's excellent fluid loss reduction properties prevent significant amounts of water from entering the reservoir from the mud, thereby increasing reservoir productivity.

Daily Chemicals: HEC is an effective film-former, binder, thickener, stabilizer, and dispersant in shampoos, hair sprays, neutralizers, conditioners, and cosmetics. It acts as an anti-deposition agent in detergent powders. Detergents containing HEC are notable for improving the smoothness and sheen of fabrics. HEC can be used as a binder and film-former in tobacco leaf recycling.

Architectural Coatings: HEC can be used in building products such as concrete mixes, fresh mortar, gypsum plaster, and other mastics to retain water during application before they set and harden. In addition to improving the water retention of building products, HEC can also extend the correction and open time of plaster or mortar. It can reduce slip and sagging. This can improve construction performance, increase work efficiency, save time, and increase the volume expansion rate of plaster, thereby saving raw materials.