Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose
Versatile Solubility – Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is soluble in cold water and various organic solvents, including methanol, ethanol, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and ketones, providing flexibility for multiple applications.
Functional Additive – It can serve as a dispersant, thickener, adhesive, excipient, capsule material, oil-resistant coating, and filler, making it highly multifunctional across industries.
Wide Industry Applications – It is extensively used in petrochemical, paper, leather, textile printing and dyeing, pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic sectors.
Emulsifying and Stabilizing Capability – In cold beverages, it can be used alone or with other emulsifiers and stabilizers to improve product stability and consistency.
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is a propylene glycol ether derivative of methylcellulose, where hydroxypropyl and methyl groups are attached to the anhydrous glucose units of cellulose through ether bonds. It appears as a white to off-white powder or granules and shares properties with methylcellulose, being soluble in cold water but insoluble in hot water. Its solubility in organic solvents surpasses that in water, dissolving readily in anhydrous methanol and ethanol, as well as in chlorinated hydrocarbons and ketones. In cold beverages, HPMC can be used alone or combined with other emulsifiers and stabilizers. Over the years, it has found widespread applications across the petrochemical, paper, leather, textile printing and dyeing, pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, serving as a dispersant, thickener, adhesive, excipient, capsule material, oil-resistant coating, and filler.
Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose Chemical Properties
English Name | Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose |
English Synonyms | hpmcd;hydroxylpropylmethylcellulose;Hydroxymethylpropylcellulose;isoptoalkaline;isoptoplain;isoptotears; methocele,f,k;HydroxypropylMethylCellulose(Hpmc) |
CAS Number | 9004-65-3 |
Molecular Formula | C3H70* |
Molecular Weight | 59.08708 |
EINECS Number | 618-389-6 |
Melting point | 225-230 °C |
density | 1.39 |
storage temp. | room temp |
solubility | H2O: 50 mg/mL, clear to very faintly turbid, faintly yellow |
form | powder |
color | White to cream |
Odor | Odorless |
PH | 5.0-8.0 |
biological source | plant |
Water Solubility | SOLUBLE |
Merck | 144842 |
Stability: | Stable. Solid is combustible, incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. |
EPA Substance Registry System | 2-Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (9004-65-3) |
Safety Statements | 24/25 |
WGK Germany | 1 |
RTECS | NF9125000 |
F | 45726 |
TSCA | Yes |
HS Code | 39129000 |
Product Usage
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) finds extensive applications across multiple industries. In construction, it is used as an additive to improve material performance. In the pharmaceutical sector, it serves as an excipient and binder. In the food industry, HPMC functions as a water-retaining agent in baking, a stabilizer for frozen products, and a thickener for beverages. In the daily chemical industry, it is employed as a thickener in cosmetics and as an anti-redeposition agent in detergents. Additionally, it is widely used in papermaking for sizing, in textile processing for fabric sizing, and in ceramics for bonding and shaping ceramic materials.
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