As a non-ionic surface agent, hydroxyethyl cellulose has the following properties in addition to thickening, suspending, binding, flotation, film-forming, dispersing, water retention and providing protective colloids:
- HEO is soluble in hot or cold water, and does not precipitate at high temperature or boiling, so that it has a wide range of solubility and viscosity characteristics, and non-thermal gelation;
- The non-ionic itself can coexist with other water-soluble polymers, surfaces and salts in a wide range, and is an excellent colloidal thickener containing high-concentration electrolyte solutions;
- The water retention capacity is twice as high as that of methyl cellulose, and it has better flow regulation.
- Compared with methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, the dispersing ability of HEC is poor, but the protective colloid ability is strong.
