The 5 most common ways to use HPMC

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) is a non-ionic cellulose ether made from natural polymer material cellulose through a series of etherification. It is a white powder that swells in cold water into a clear or slightly turbid colloidal solution. It has the characteristics of thickening, dispersion, emulsification, film formation, suspension, adsorption, surface activity, moisture retention and protective colloid.

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1.Tile adhesive

As a functional decorative material, ceramic tile has been widely used worldwide, the ceramic tiles have different shapes and sizes, and the unit weight and density are also varied. And how to stick this durable material has always been a concern. The appearance of tile adhesive guarantees the reliable bonding effect to a certain extent.

Tile adhesive is the compound used to stick the tiles to the wall or floor. It is ready-mixed and specially formulated from OPC, selected fine sand, and additives to improve its essential properties for laying tiles.

HPMC can ensure the smooth construction of different types of tiles on various substrates, even if the ambient temperature is relatively high. It can also offer the tile adhesive a long enough open time for adjustment. 

HPMC can improve tile adhesive by the following aspects:

• Enable tile adhesive a longer open time.
• Improve workability without sticking trowel.
• Increase sag-resistance and wettability.

2.Gypsum Plasters

Gypsum-based plaster is an interior plastering material made of gypsum hemihydrate, cellulose ethers, lightweight aggregates, retarders and other auxiliary materials. Gypsum-based plaster is characterized by energy efficiency, environmental friendliness and fire resistance.

HPMC can provide the following improvements for gypsum plasters:

• Improved water retention rate.
• Excellent workability and high coating rate
• Enhanced anti-slip and anti-sagging
• Improved heat resistance

3.Self-leveling

The self-leveling compound is a chemical mixture used to smooth uneven concrete or wooden floors with a flat and self-compacting function. Its ability to level and self-seal is crucial to achieving a smooth and seamless floor.

A quality self-leveling product should have the appropriate operating performance and can maintain its leveling performance and self-healing ability, which require the compound to ensure both its uniformity and stability during the construction. And secondly, it must have a certain strength, including the bearing capacity and the binding force to the base surface. These are the basis for the normal application of floor materials. In the realization of self-leveling properties, special low viscosity HPMC product play an important role.

• Prevent the slurry from settling and bleeding
• Improve water retention property
• Reduce mortar shrinkage
• Avoid cracks

4.Masonry mortar

The autoclaved aerated concrete(AAC) block laying mortar is a light porous silicate product made by using silicon material (sand, fly ash, silicon-containing tailings, etc.) and calcium material (lime, cement) as their main raw materials, adding aerating agent (aluminum powder), and through the technological processes of material preparation, stirring, casting, precuring, cutting, steaming, and curing. Because it contains many uniform and fine air holes after it is aerated, it is called aerated concrete block laying mortar.

As a new type of wall material, the aerated block has the advantages of lightweight and good thermal insulation performance. But at the same time, its water absorption rate is relatively large, and the water absorption is slow, and the drying speed is also slow. The traditional mortar construction is prone to poor adhesion between the masonry and the hollow wall cracking, even large areas of shedding and other problems appeared, thus an excellent performance of aerated concrete plastering mortar composite admixture came into being.

The composite admixture mixed with HPMC products greatly improves the workability of the mortar, improves the water retention, toughness, and bonding strength of the mortar, and reduces the shrinkage of the mortar, which solved the problems caused by traditional mortars.

5.Detergent

A special grade of Cellulose ether(HPMC) is used in detergents to stabilize emulsions and suspended particles and is used for thickening and rheological modification of systems with high surfactant content. The thickener product is supplied in a low-viscosity liquid, easy to pour and pump. It is incredibly convenient for batch use and automatic metering devices.

High viscosity HPMC is very well suited to thicken washing up liquids as they normally form a clear solution, have a good level of compatibility with ionic tensides, and can easily be incorporated into the washing up liquid, due to their delayed solubility. Good storage stability will also be achieved.

When HPMC is used in detergent, its dosage should be determined according to the customer&#;s design. The recommended addition amount is 0.5%-4.0% of the total formula. It can also be used in conjunction with other types of thickeners according to different requirements to achieve the formulation design&#;s viscosity and rheological properties.

With years of experience in the related industry and customer needs, Meikai has successfully developed various cellulose ether products under the brand MikaZone&#;.

Feel free to contact with MikaZone team.

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How to dissolve HPMC(Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose) correctly? What is the specific methods?

HPMC can be divided into instant type (Surface treated) and hot soluble type (Non-surface treated). The instant product is rapidly dispersed in cold water and disappears into the water. At this time, the liquid has no viscosity because HPMC is only dispersed in water and there is no real dissolution. About 2 minutes, the viscosity of the liquid gradually increased to form a transparent viscous colloid. Hot-soluble type, lumped in cold water, but in hot water, quickly disperse, disappear in hot water, until the temperature drops to a certain temperature, the viscosity slowly appears until a transparent viscous colloid is formed. The reason for lumping in the cold water is that the outer cellulose powder encounters cold water, immediately starts to have a viscosity, thickens into a transparent colloid, and the cellulose inside is not in contact with water, and is surrounded by the colloid, or is powdery, but slowly dissolves. In practical applications, it is not necessary to use hot water to dissolve hot-melt products, because the putty powder or mortar is powder. After dry mixing, the cellulose is separated by other materials. When it meets water, it will immediately become viscosity and will not have lumps. The hot-dissolved type can only be used in putty powder and mortar. In liquid glue and paint, there will be lumped. It is available in a wide range of applications for instant type (Surface treated) , in putty powder and mortar, as well as in liquid glues and coatings. There are no contraindications. However, for instant type (Surface treated), it&#;s water retention and stability are not comparable to hot soluble type (Non-surface treated). Therefore, we recommend hot soluble type (Non-surface treated) in dry powder such as putty powder and mortar.

 

Hot soluble type (Non-surface treated) HPMC dissolution methods

If the hot soluble type (Non-surface treated) HPMC is added directly to the water, agglomeration will occur before dissolution. However, dissolving in this way is very slow and difficult. Here we recommend three dissolution methods for end users based on different applications&#;

1 Hot water dissolution method: Since HPMC is not dissolved in hot water, the initial HPMC can be uniformly dispersed in hot water and then rapidly dissolved upon cooling. Two typical methods as follows:

Adding hot water(85°C) into the container. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose was gradually added with slow stirring, and the HPMC floated on the surface of the water, and then gradually formed a slurry, and the slurry was cooled with stirring.

 

Adding 1/3 or 2/3 of the required amount of hot water(85°C) to the vessel , gradually add HPMC to hot water and keep stirring. Cold water or ice water is then added to the hot cement slurry to achieve the desired level. Stirring is continued to cool the mixture.

 

2 Powder mixing method: Mix the HPMC powder with a large amount of other powdery substances, mix well with a blender, and then add water to dissolve. At this time, HPMC can be dissolved without agglomeration, because each tiny small corner has only a little HPMC. The powder will dissolve immediately upon contact with water. &#; This method is used by putty powder and mortar manufacturers.

 

3 Organic solvent humidification dissolution method: HPMC is pre-dispersed or wetted with an organic solvent such as ethanol, ethylene glycol or oil, and then dissolved in water, and HPMC can be easily dissolved.

 

 

Instant type (Surface treated) HPMC dissolution methods

Surface treatment powders are specially developed to prevent lumping in wet-mixing applications such as paint and emulsion applications. In order to prepare a solution from the surface-treated powder, the powder is directly placed in cold water. Over time, a fully developed solution of suitable viscosity was prepared by continuously stirring the solution.

 

Note: In order to dissolve quickly, the instant type (Surface treated) HPMC will dissolve rapidly after adjusting PH value to 8-10 by adding ammonia or alkali water, forming a solution.

NON-SURFACE TREATED HPMC

 

In short, for different types of products, the correct method can be fully dissolved. If agglomeration occurs during dissolution, it is caused by insufficient agitation or direct addition of ordinary models to cold water. At this time, it should be stirred quickly. In addition, if bubbles are generated during dissolution, it can be left to stand or defoamer added.

 

 

For more information, please visit Masonry Mortar Use HPMC.