Hydroxyethyl Cellulose HEC

    Hydroxyethyl cellulose is widely used as a thickener for cellulose ether organic water-based inks. It is thermally stable, does not gel when heated, does not precipitate even under acidic conditions, has good film-forming, and can turn its aqueous solution into a transparent film. It is formed by the reaction of alkali cellulose and ethylene oxide, which has the properties of thickening, emulsifying, bonding, suspension, film forming, moisturizing, and protecting colloids. The non-ionic form is inherently compatible with a variety of other water-soluble polymers, surfactants, and salts, and is an excellent colloidal thickener, including highly concentrated dielectric solutions. It has twice the water holding capacity of methylcellulose and excellent flow control properties. Its dispersibility is not as good as that of known methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, but it has a strong ability to protect colloids.