Cellulose ether is produced through etherification and drying grinding of cellulose using one or more etherifying agents. Based on the different chemical structures of ether substitution groups, cellulose ether can be classified into anionic, cationic, and non-ionic ethers. Anionic cellulose ethers mainly include carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), while non-ionic cellulose ethers mainly include methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HC), among others. Non-ionic ethers are further divided into water-soluble and oil-soluble ethers, with water-soluble non-ionic ethers being primarily used in mortar products. In the presence of calcium ions, ionic cellulose ethers are unstable, so they are rarely used in dry-mixed mortars with cement and hydrated lime as binding materials. Non-ionic water-soluble cellulose ethers, however, are widely used in the building materials industry due to their suspension stability and water-retaining properties.
Chemical Properties of Cellulose Ether:
Every type of cellulose ether has the basic structure of cellulose, known as the dehydrated glucose structure. During the production of cellulose ether, cellulose fibers are heated in an alkaline solution, then treated with etherifying agents. The resulting fibrous reaction product is purified, ground into a powder of a certain size.
The production process of methyl cellulose (MC) uses only chloromethane as an etherifying agent, while the production of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) involves not only chloromethane but also epoxy propane to obtain hydroxypropyl substituents. Different cellulose ethers have different methylation and hydroxypropylation substitution rates, affecting the organic solubility and gelation temperature of cellulose ether solutions.
Applications of Cellulose Ether:
Cellulose ether is a non-ionic semi-synthetic polymer with both water-soluble and solvent-soluble properties. Its applications vary across different industries, such as in chemical building materials, where it serves as:
Water-retaining agent
Thickening agent
Leveling agent
Film-forming agent
Binding agent
In the PVC industry, cellulose ether acts as an emulsifier and dispersant, while in the pharmaceutical industry, it functions as a binding agent and controlled-release skeleton material. Due to its multifunctionality, cellulose finds extensive applications in various fields. The article then provides specific details on the usage and effects of cellulose ether in plaster putty, concrete mortar, gypsum products, thermal insulation mortar, and interface agents.
Industry Chain Situation:
The upstream industry involves the production of cellulose ether’s main raw materials, including refined cotton (or wood pulp) and certain common chemical solvents. The fluctuation in prices of these raw materials affects the production cost and selling price of cellulose ether to varying extents.
The downstream industry for cellulose ether is diverse, spanning various sectors of the national economy. The growth rates of downstream industries, particularly in construction and real estate, have a significant impact on the demand for building-grade cellulose ether. The development trend of cellulose ether involves ensuring stable product quality and enhancing application technology levels. The article concludes by highlighting that cellulose ether, often referred to as “industrial MSG,” has broad applications across construction, pharmaceuticals, food, textiles, daily chemicals, petroleum extraction, mining, papermaking, polymer reactions, aerospace, and many other fields.
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