What is the use of HPMC thickener?

HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) thickener is a multifunctional chemical material widely used in many industries. Due to its good water solubility, thickening, gelling, film-forming and other properties, it is widely used in building materials, medicine, cosmetics, food, coatings, paints, ceramics, detergents and other industries.

1. Building materials field

The main use of HPMC in the construction industry is as a thickener and binder for mortar, coatings and adhesives. Its thickening and water retention properties make building materials more operable in construction, extend the open time of mortar, and improve the material's crack resistance and anti-sagging properties.

Mortar thickener: In dry-mixed mortar, the addition of HPMC can effectively improve the mortar's anti-sagging and workability, ensure that the material is not easy to fall off during construction, and maintain a certain wet time, making the construction operation smoother.

Tile adhesive: HPMC can improve the bonding strength of tile bonding materials, improve its wet bonding properties, reduce sagging, and ensure the bonding effect of tiles and the convenience of construction.

Putty powder: In the putty powder for interior and exterior walls, the use of HPMC can improve the rheology and coating properties of putty powder, making it easy to construct and not prone to cracking.

2. Pharmaceutical field

In the pharmaceutical field, HPMC is an important pharmaceutical excipient, commonly used in tablet coating, sustained-release preparations, capsule shells, etc.

Binder and film-forming agent for pharmaceutical tablets: HPMC can be used as a binder in tablets to improve the hardness and stability of tablets. At the same time, it can be used as a coating material to protect drugs from external factors such as oxygen and moisture, thereby extending the shelf life of drugs.

Sustained-release drug carrier: HPMC plays a sustained-release role in sustained-release preparations, controls the release rate of drugs, avoids side effects caused by rapid release of drugs, and ensures the long-term effect of drugs in the body.

Capsule shell: HPMC, as a plant-derived material, is widely used in the production of vegetarian capsule shells, replacing traditional animal gelatin to meet the needs of vegetarians and religious people.

3. Cosmetic field

HPMC is widely used in the production of cosmetics and personal care products due to its excellent emulsification, thickening, film-forming and moisturizing properties.

Thickener for lotions and creams: HPMC is used as a thickener and stabilizer in cosmetic lotions, creams, shampoos and conditioners to increase the consistency of the product, improve its feel, and make it more spreadable and absorbent.

Film former: HPMC can also be used as a film former in cosmetics to help the product form a protective film on the skin surface to prevent water loss and improve the moisturizing effect. At the same time, it can also make cosmetics more waterproof and prolong their stay on the skin.

4. Food field

In the food industry, HPMC as a food additive (E464) has thickening, suspending, emulsifying and stabilizing effects, and is often used in baked goods, dairy products, beverages and frozen foods.

Baked foods: In baked products such as bread and cakes, HPMC can improve the water retention and extensibility of the dough, improve the softness and moisturizing properties of the finished product, and extend the shelf life of the food.

Dairy products and beverages: HPMC's emulsifying and thickening properties make it widely used in dairy products and beverages, such as milkshakes, yogurt, etc., to improve taste and stability and prevent stratification.

Vegetarian food: As a plant-based thickener, HPMC is suitable for use in vegetarian foods, such as vegetarian capsules, vegetarian sausages, vegetarian meat products, etc., to play a role in thickening, shaping and stabilization.

5. Coatings and paint industry

HPMC is used as a thickener and stabilizer in coatings and paints. Its thickening effect can improve the fluidity and brushability of the coating, make the coating smoother during construction, reduce brush marks, and improve the smoothness and uniformity of the coating.

Water-based coatings: HPMC has good water solubility, so it is often used in water-based coatings to increase the viscosity of the coating, prevent stratification and precipitation, and improve the uniformity and rheology of the coating, making construction smoother.

Paints and architectural coatings: In paints and architectural coatings, HPMC can improve the anti-sagging property of the coating, reduce dripping during construction, and improve the adhesion and durability of the coating.

6. Ceramic and papermaking industries

HPMC can also be used in the ceramic and papermaking industries as a thickener, binder and dispersant to improve product quality and the stability of the production process.

Ceramic industry: HPMC is used in ceramic bodies and glazes to improve the fluidity and formability of ceramic bodies, while increasing the viscosity of glazes to avoid defects during firing.

Papermaking industry: HPMC, as a thickener in papermaking coatings, can increase the smoothness and glossiness of paper surfaces, improve printability and paper strength.

7. Detergents and cleaning products

In detergents and cleaning products, the thickening effect of HPMC can increase the viscosity and stability of products, especially in liquid detergents and dishwashing liquids, which increases the fluidity and use effect of products. At the same time, HPMC also has good surface activity and suspension, which can keep the active ingredients in cleaning products evenly distributed and prevent precipitation.

HPMC thickeners play an important role in various industries due to their excellent water solubility, thickening, film-forming, water retention and stability. From building materials to food, medicine, cosmetics and other fields, HPMC not only improves the performance of products, but also greatly improves the production process and the quality of the final product. In the future, with the advancement of science and technology and the popularization of green environmental protection concepts, the application scope of HPMC is expected to be further expanded, providing more support for the innovation and development of various industries.