How to use Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) is a non-ionic cellulose ether widely used in building materials, medicine, food, daily chemicals and other fields.

1. Basic characteristics
Solubility: HPMC is soluble in cold water and some organic solvents, and its aqueous solution is neutral or weakly alkaline.
Thickening: HPMC has excellent thickening ability and can improve the viscosity and thixotropy of the material.
Water retention: It can effectively prolong the evaporation time of water and improve the construction performance.
Film-forming property: HPMC can form a transparent and flexible film.
Thermogelation: It will gel after heating to a certain temperature and return to the dissolved state after cooling.

2. How to use
Dissolution steps
HPMC needs to be properly dissolved when used to give full play to its role:
Cold water dissolution:
Sprinkle HPMC slowly into cold water to avoid direct agglomeration.
Add while stirring to form a uniformly dispersed mixture.
After standing for a period of time (about 30 minutes to several hours), HPMC will gradually dissolve to form a transparent solution.
Hot water dissolution:
Mix HPMC with some hot water (above 70°C) and stir to pre-disperse it.
After cooling, add cold water and continue stirring until it is completely dissolved.
This method is suitable for scenarios where a solution needs to be prepared quickly.

Concentration control
According to the specific use, the concentration of HPMC solution should be reasonably adjusted:
Construction field: Usually prepared as a 0.1%~1% aqueous solution, mainly used for adhesives, putty powder, tile adhesive, etc.
Food field: The usage is generally 0.05%~0.5%, determined according to food additive regulations.
Medical field: HPMC is an excipient for drug tablets, and the addition amount needs to be controlled to ensure the drug release effect.

Use field refinement
Construction industry:
In putty powder and mortar, first dissolve HPMC in water, and then mix it evenly with other components in proportion.
When used in tile adhesive, HPMC can improve viscosity and anti-slip properties.
Pharmaceutical field:
It can be directly used for coating of pharmaceutical tablets to improve disintegration and release control performance.
Daily chemical field:
It is used as a thickener or emulsifier stabilizer in detergents and facial cleansers.
Paint field:
It is used as a thickener in latex paint to prevent pigment precipitation.
3. Precautions
Temperature influence: The solubility of HPMC is closely related to temperature. High temperature may cause gelation, so it is recommended to operate in cold water to avoid instant agglomeration.
Stirring method: Stir slowly and evenly to avoid excessive bubbles caused by vigorous stirring.
Storage conditions:
Avoid exposure to humid environments.
Avoid contact with strong acids, strong alkalis or oxidants.
Safety: HPMC is non-toxic and non-irritating, but protective equipment should be worn during powder operation to avoid inhalation or contact with eyes.
Through proper dissolution and use, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose can play its excellent thickening, water retention, adhesion and stabilization effects in various fields.