Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)

It is made by reacting refined cotton with ethylene oxide as etherification agent in the presence of acetone after alkali treatment. The degree of substitution is generally 1.5 to 2.0. Has strong hydrophilicity, easy to absorb moisture

(1) Hydroxyethyl cellulose is soluble in cold water, but it is difficult to dissolve in hot water. The solution is stable at high temperature and does not have gel properties. It can be used for a long time at high temperature in the mortar, but its water retention is lower than that of methyl cellulose.

(2) Hydroxyethyl cellulose is stable to general acids and alkalis. Alkali can accelerate its dissolution and increase its viscosity slightly. Its dispersibility in water is slightly worse than that of methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. .

(3) Hydroxyethyl cellulose has good anti-sagging performance for mortar, but it has a longer retardation time for cement.

(4) The performance of hydroxyethyl cellulose produced by some domestic enterprises is significantly lower than that of methyl cellulose due to its high water content and high ash content.