Exploring the Properties and Applications of Cellulose-Based Polymers in Modern Industry
The long molecular chains of HPMC will attract each other, making HPMC molecules intertwine to form a network structure, and wrapping cement and mixing water. As HPMC forms a network structure similar to a film and wraps the cement, it can effectively prevent the volatilization of water in the mortar and hinder or slow down the cement hydration rate. In the bleeding test, the bleeding phenomenon of mortar is similar to that of concrete, which will cause serious settlement of aggregate, increase the water cement ratio of the top layer slurry, make the top layer slurry shrink greatly in the early stage, even crack, and the strength of the slurry surface is relatively weak. It can be seen from the experiment that when the content is above 0.5%, there is basically no bleeding phenomenon. This is because when HPMC is mixed into mortar, HPMC has film-forming and reticular structure, as well as the adsorption of hydroxyl on the long chain of macromolecule, which makes the cement and mixing water in mortar form flocculent, ensuring the stable structure of mortar. When HPMC is added to mortar, many independent tiny bubbles will be formed. These bubbles will be evenly distributed in the mortar and hinder the deposition of aggregates. This technical performance of HPMC has a great impact on cement-based materials, and is often used to prepare new cement-based composites such as dry mortar and polymer mortar, so that they have good water and plastic retention.
The water demand test of mortar has a great influence on the water demand of mortar when the amount of HPMC is very small.
Methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (MHEC) is a kind of methyl cellulose derivative which is made from natural high polymer cellulose. It is widely used in many different industries as water retention agent, thickener, adhesive agent and dispersant etc. It could dissolve in water and form a clear solution with specific viscosity. MHEC has a good stability even though in alkaline environment and provide a good stability in heat environment. Widely used in drymix mortar industry, oil drilling, detergent and paint & costings etc.