HPMC Chemical Applications and Benefits in Various Industries and Sectors
Manufacturing Process of MHEC Powder
In paints, as a protective colloid, HPMC and MHEC can be used in the polymerization of vinyl acetate emulsion to improve the stability of the polymerization system in a wide pH range. Use pigments, fillers and other additives in finished product manufacturing to evenly disperse, stabilize and provide thickening effect.
Within the food industry, MHEC powder serves as a stabilizer, thickener, and binder. It imparts viscosity and enhances the texture of diverse food products, including baked goods. Moreover, MHEC can form gels and films, rendering it suitable for edible coatings and the encapsulation of flavors and additives.
In the past, attempts have been made to clarify the working mechanism of methyl cellulose (MC). Early works from Schweizer et al. present the effect of cellulose ethers on water retention and rheology of cementitious mortars and gypsum-based machinery plasters [15], [16]. They demonstrate that adsorption of methyl cellulose is clearly dependent on the degree of substitution (DS). At DS values of > 1.6 which are typical for MC products used in the building industry, only a minor amount (~ 20%) of the MC powder adsorbs. In a very skillful experiment the authors show that during the drying process of a gypsum-based render, MC migrates with the water to the surface of the render and is not retained by adsorption. Thus, they conclude that MC does not adsorb on the binder or its hydrates. Similar observations have been made by Yammamuro et al. [17].
The production process of MHEC powder involves several sequential stages. It commences with the extraction of cellulose from natural sources like wood pulp or cotton. Subsequently, the extracted cellulose undergoes alkalization. The ensuing step encompasses etherification via sodium mono chloroacetate, culminating in the production of MHEC. This resultant substance is then subjected to purification, drying, and milling, ultimately yielding the final MHEC product.