What is the function of propyl methylcellulose?

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is a white powder. Many people may not know about this substance. In fact, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose has a wide range of uses. For example, it is a frequently consumed food additive. After adding this cellulose to food, the food will become more viscous. In addition, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose can also replace gelatin. It has the following main functions.

Function of propyl methylcellulose:

1. Construction industry: As a water retaining agent and retarder for cement mortar, it makes the mortar pumpable. It can be used as an adhesive in plaster, gypsum, putty powder or other building materials to improve the spreadability and extend the working time. It can be used as a bonding enhancer for tiles, marble, and plastic decorations, and can also reduce the amount of cement used. The water retention property of HPMC prevents the slurry from cracking due to drying too quickly after application, and enhances the strength after hardening.

2. Ceramic manufacturing industry: It is widely used as an adhesive in the manufacture of ceramic products.

3. Paint industry: In the paint industry, it is used as a thickener, dispersant and stabilizer, and has good properties in water or organic solvents.

Chemical properties:

1. Appearance: white or off-white powder.

2. Particle size: 100 mesh pass rate is greater than 98.5%; 80 mesh pass rate is 100%. Special specification particle size 40~60 mesh.

3. Carbonization temperature: 280-300℃

4. Apparent density: 0.25-0.70g/cm (usually around 0.5g/cm), specific gravity 1.26-1.31.

5. Color change temperature: 190-200℃

6. Surface tension: 2% aqueous solution is 42-56dyn/cm.

7. Solubility: Soluble in water and some solvents, such as ethanol/water, propanol/water in appropriate proportions. Aqueous solutions are surface active. High transparency, stable performance, different specifications of products have different gel temperatures, solubility changes with viscosity, the lower the viscosity, the greater the solubility, different specifications of HPMC have certain differences in performance, HPMC solubility in water is not affected by pH value.

8. As the methoxy content of HPMC decreases, the gel point increases, the water solubility decreases, and the surface activity also decreases.

9. HPMC also has the characteristics of thickening ability, salt resistance, low ash powder, pH stability, water retention, dimensional stability, excellent film-forming properties, as well as wide enzyme resistance, dispersibility and adhesion.