What is the use of hydroxyethyl cellulose in detergents?

Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) is a water-soluble nonionic polymer that is widely used in detergents and mainly plays the following roles:

1. Thickening effect
Hydroxyethyl cellulose is an efficient thickener that can significantly increase the viscosity of detergents, enhancing product texture and user experience. In detergents, proper viscosity helps prevent product loss, increases adhesion, and enhances the consumer’s sensory experience during use. At the same time, the thickening effect makes it easy to control the amount of detergent and avoid waste.

2. Stabilizing effect
In liquid detergents, especially formulations containing multiple ingredients, hydroxyethyl cellulose can act as a stabilizer. It can prevent the delamination and precipitation of solid particles or droplets in the system, thereby ensuring the uniformity and appearance stability of the product. For example, in dish soap or laundry detergent that contains suspended particles, HEC can help keep the particles suspended.

3. Film formation
Hydroxyethyl cellulose can form a thin film in solution, which plays an important role in the functional enhancement of detergents. For example, in some floor cleaners, it can form a protective film to increase the gloss after cleaning while reducing the adhesion of re-contamination.

4. Adjust rheology
HEC has an important influence on the rheological properties of detergents and can impart ideal rheological properties to detergents. By controlling the viscoelasticity of the solution, the product can be easily pumped and packaged without overflowing or being difficult to disperse during use.

5. Improve foam stability
In some cleaning products that require foaming effect (such as hand soap or shampoo), hydroxyethyl cellulose can enhance the stability of the foam and extend the retention time of the foam, thus improving the cleaning effect and user experience.

6. Strong compatibility
As a non-ionic polymer, hydroxyethyl cellulose has strong formulation compatibility. It can coexist with various surfactants, salts and other additives without affecting the stability or activity of the system. This makes HEC an ideal additive in multifunctional formulations.

7. Easy to use
Hydroxyethyl cellulose can be quickly dissolved in both cold and hot water and is not significantly affected by water quality (hard or soft water), which facilitates the production and application of detergents. In addition, it has good biodegradability and has less impact on the environment during use and discharge.

Typical application examples
Dishwashing liquids and kitchen cleaners: Act as thickeners and suspension stabilizers to help distribute particles or active ingredients evenly.
Laundry detergent: improves fluidity and stability, and improves the softness of fabrics after cleaning.
Personal cleansing products: Enhance foam stability and comfort.
Hard Surface Cleaner: Provides film protection, increased cleaning performance and surface shine.

The application of hydroxyethyl cellulose in detergents not only improves the physical properties of the product, such as viscosity, stability and foam quality, but also optimizes the use effect and user experience. It also has environmental protection properties and is an important multi-functional assistant. agent.