Few questions about the HEC used in water paints

What is HEC?

Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) is a white, odorless, non-toxic powdery solid produced by etherifying alkaline cellulose with ethylene oxide or chloroethanol, 

making it a non-ionic, water-soluble cellulose ether. HEC offers excellent thickening, suspending, dispersing, emulsifying, binding, film-forming, and moisture-retention properties, 

as well as functioning as a protective colloid. It is widely used across various industries, including petroleum exploration, coatings, construction, pharmaceuticals, food, textiles, papermaking, and polymerization.

What happens to HEC in water-based coatings?

As a non-ionic surfactant, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) offers several properties beyond thickening, suspending, bonding, floating, 

film-forming, dispersing, water retention, and protective colloid capabilities:

1.HEC is soluble in both hot and cold water, maintaining stability without precipitation at high temperatures. This gives it a broad range of solubility and viscosity profiles and makes it resistant to thermal gelation.

2.Its water retention ability surpasses that of methyl cellulose, providing enhanced flow control.

3.Although HEC’s dispersing ability is lower than that of methyl cellulose, it has the strongest protective colloid capacity.

4.HEC is compatible with other water-soluble polymers, surfactants, and salts, making it an effective colloidal thickener in solutions with high electrolyte concentrations.

How to Use HEC

1.Add during production processes directly

Add clean water to a large container equipped with a high-speed agitator. Begin stirring continuously at low speed and gradually sift the Hydroxyethyl Cellulose

 into the water in an even manner. Continue stirring until all particles are fully moistened. Next, add preservatives and various additives, such as pigments, 

dispersants, and ammonia. Stir until the Hydroxyethyl Cellulose is completely dissolved and the solution reaches a noticeably higher viscosity, 

then proceed to add the remaining ingredients in the formula to begin reactions.

2. Equipped with mother liquor

Prepare a higher-concentration stock solution first, which can then be added to the final product. This method provides more flexibility and allows for direct 

addition to the finished product, but it requires proper storage. The steps for this method are similar to those in Method 1, except that a high-shear agitator isn’t necessary; 

only a mixer with sufficient power to keep the Hydroxyethyl Cellulose uniformly dispersed is needed. Stir continuously until it dissolves fully into a viscous solution.

Note that an antifungal agent should be added to the stock solution as soon as possible.

Name: Molly.Wang

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