Here, an attempt was made to establish the working mechanism of MHEC. For this purpose, its water retention effectiveness in cement paste and its dynamic viscosity in cement pore solution were measured. Furthermore, its potential adsorption on cement was probed via a specifically designed static filtration test. Finally, concentration-dependent hydrodynamic diameters of solved MHEC molecules, and their surface tension in cement pore solution were measured to establish the mechanism underlying the effectiveness of MHEC as water retention agent.

Another important application of MHEC in the pharmaceutical industry is as a thickening agent in liquid formulations. Liquid dosage forms, such as syrups and suspensions, often require the addition of thickening agents to improve their viscosity and stability. MHEC is particularly well-suited for this purpose due to its ability to form a gel-like structure when dispersed in water. This helps to prevent settling of solid particles and ensures a uniform distribution of the API throughout the formulation.