HPMC, the full name is Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, is a non-ionic cellulose ether widely used in construction, medicine, food, daily chemicals and other fields.
1. Classification by viscosity
The viscosity of HPMC is one of its important physical properties, and HPMC with different viscosities has significant differences in application. The viscosity range ranges from low viscosity (tens of cps) to high viscosity (tens of thousands of cps).
Low viscosity HPMC: Typically used in applications requiring rapid dissolution or flowability, such as liquid pharmaceutical suspensions, sprays, etc.
Medium viscosity HPMC: widely used in daily chemicals, such as shampoo, shower gel, etc., providing moderate thickening effect and good rheological properties.
High viscosity HPMC: mostly used in construction materials, such as dry mortar, ceramic tile adhesive, interior and exterior wall putty, etc., providing excellent thickening, water retention and construction properties.
2. Classification by degree of substitution
The degree of substitution of HPMC refers to the number of hydroxypropyl and methyl substituents in its molecule, usually expressed as MS (hydroxypropyl degree of substitution) and DS (methyl substitution).
Low degree of substitution HPMC: dissolves quickly and is mainly used in applications that require rapid dissolution, such as pharmaceutical tablet coating and instant beverages.
High degree of substitution HPMC: It has higher viscosity and better water retention, and is suitable for products that require high viscosity and high water retention, such as building materials and highly effective moisturizing cosmetics.
3. Classification by application areas
The specific uses of HPMC in different fields vary greatly, and can be divided into the following categories according to the application fields:
building materials
The main role of HPMC in the construction field is to improve the construction performance and durability of materials, including:
Dry mortar: HPMC provides good water retention, lubricity and operability, improving construction efficiency and finished product quality.
Tile adhesive: Increase bonding strength and anti-slip properties to ensure the stability and durability of tile paving.
Paint and putty: Enhance the rheology and water retention of paint and putty to prevent cracking and powder loss.
medicine
In the pharmaceutical field, HPMC is mainly used as pharmaceutical excipients, including:
Tablet coating: As a tablet coating material, it provides moisture-proof, solubilization and sustained-release functions to improve the stability and appearance of the drug.
Gel: used to prepare pharmaceutical gels, providing good adhesion and biocompatibility.
food
HPMC is mainly used as thickener, emulsifier and stabilizer in the food industry, including:
Noodle products: Increase the toughness and elasticity of dough, improve taste and texture.
Dairy products: As an emulsifier and stabilizer, it prevents stratification and precipitation of dairy products and improves product stability.
Daily chemicals
In daily chemicals, HPMC is widely used as thickeners and stabilizers, including:
Shampoo and shower gel: Provide moderate viscosity and rheology to improve product use experience.
Skin care products: As a thickener and moisturizer, it enhances the moisturizing effect and usage experience of the product.
4. Other special purposes
HPMC can also be used in some special fields, such as oil field mining, ceramic industry, paper industry, etc.
Oilfield production: used in drilling fluids and fracturing fluids to provide excellent thickening and fluid loss reduction properties.
Ceramic industry: used as a binder and suspending agent to improve the stability and fluidity of ceramic slurry.
Papermaking industry: used for surface treatment of paper to increase its strength and water resistance.
As a multifunctional cellulose derivative, HPMC has excellent physical and chemical properties and broad application prospects. Different types of HPMC have their own characteristics in terms of viscosity, degree of substitution and use. Choosing the appropriate HPMC type according to specific application requirements can significantly improve product performance and quality. With the advancement of science and technology and the expansion of application fields, the application of HPMC will become more extensive and in-depth.