GinShiCel HEC Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Ether: Definition, Properties, Grades, Applications & FAQ
Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) is a non-ionic cellulose ether chemically modified from natural cellulose, appearing as odorless, non-toxic white powder. It dissolves in both cold and hot water to form transparent viscous solutions, delivering core functions of thickening, water retention, colloid protection, suspension stabilization and film forming. GinShiCel® HEC from Zhejiang Haishen New Materials covers a viscosity range of 100–100,000 mPa·s, serving coatings, construction, oil drilling, personal care and textile industries, and is exported to over 80 countries worldwide.
HEC (Hydroxyethyl Cellulose) is a non-ionic modified cellulose ether. Its defining feature is solubility in both cold and hot water, which provides higher formulation flexibility than cold-water-only cellulose ethers.
Zhejiang Haishen New Materials Co., Ltd. is a leading cellulose ether manufacturer in China, founded in 1990 and based in Shaoxing, Zhejiang. The company owns the registered trademark GinShiCel®, with product lines covering HPMC, HEC, HEMC, HPC, MC, RDP and other specialty chemicals.
The performance of HEC comes from its molecular structure and interaction with water, with 5 core mechanisms:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Thickening | High thickening efficiency with wide viscosity coverage |
| Water retention | Excellent moisture-holding capacity |
| Salt resistance | Excellent compatibility with most inorganic salts |
| Suspension | Uniform particle dispersion, anti-sedimentation |
| Film forming | Transparent and flexible film after drying |
| Bonding | Enhances adhesion strength of building materials |
| Dispersion & emulsification | Stabilizes mixtures and prevents phase separation |
| Surface activity | Improves substrate wetting performance |
| Anti-biodegradability | Enzymatic degradation resistance, extended shelf life |
Viscosity can be customized from low-viscosity grades for coatings to high-viscosity grades for building materials.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or slightly yellowish powder |
| Molar Substitution (M.S.) | 1.5–2.5 |
| Fineness | Residue on 80 mesh sieve ≤ 8.0% |
| Loss on Drying | ≤ 6.0% |
| Ash Content | ≤ 10.0% |
| Viscosity | 100.0–100000 mPa·s (nominal value ±20%) |
| pH Value | 5.0–9.0 |
| Light Transmittance | ≥ 80% |
Applied in latex paints, stone-effect paints, multi-color coatings and art coatings. Functions: thickens the system, stabilizes formulation, improves brush and roller application feel. High purity and low insoluble matter ensure clear aqueous solutions and consistent color performance.
Used in mortars, plasters, tile adhesives and other construction products:
- Water retention: prevents rapid water absorption by substrates
- Anti-sagging: keeps mortar stable in thick-layer application
- Improved workability: reduces stickiness and smooths application feel
- Extended open time: prolongs the workable window of mortar
- Suspension: prevents heavy aggregate sedimentation
Serves as a drilling fluid additive for thickening, fluid loss control and solid suspension, stabilizing wellbore and ensuring efficient drilling operations.
Non-toxic and non-irritating, used as thickener and stabilizer in personal care products.
Acts as thickener for printing pastes and sizing agent in textile industry.
| Feature | HEC (Hydroxyethyl Cellulose) | HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose) | HEMC (Hydroxyethyl Methyl Cellulose) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Cold and hot water | Cold water only | Cold water only |
| Ionic character | Non-ionic | Non-ionic | Non-ionic |
| Salt resistance | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Gel temperature | No thermal gelation | 58–75°C (grade dependent) | ≥75°C |
| Primary applications | Coatings, oil drilling, cosmetics | Building materials, pharma, food | Building materials, coatings |
| Viscosity range (mPa·s) | 100–100,000 | 3–200,000 | 100–200,000 |
- Low viscosity (100–1,500 mPa·s): thin coatings, spray applications, low-thickening systems
- Medium viscosity (1,500–30,000 mPa·s): standard latex paints, general-purpose coatings
- High viscosity (30,000–100,000 mPa·s): high-build coatings, construction mortars, drilling fluids
Viscosity is measured with a Brookfield viscometer. Confirm test conditions (concentration, temperature) match your formulation requirements.
HEC is preferred for high-temperature or salt-containing environments due to its thermal stability and salt resistance.
Verify compatibility with other additives in your formulation. Haishen technical team provides compatibility testing and formulation optimization support.
Surface-treated grades with controlled dissolution rate and custom viscosity specifications are available.
- Add HEC powder into water under moderate agitation.
- Allow sufficient time for full hydration and dissolution (works in both cold and hot water).
- Add the HEC pre-solution into the coating formulation.
- Adjust system viscosity by modifying HEC dosage.
- Dry-blend HEC powder thoroughly with cement, sand, fillers and other dry ingredients.
- Add water and mix to target consistency.
- Let stand for full hydration of HEC.
- Complete application within the open time window.
Zhejiang Haishen New Materials has established a complete quality control system, covering raw material screening, production process control and finished product inspection. Each batch is sampled and archived to ensure stable performance.
The company operates an R&D center with an experienced technical service team, providing formulation guidance, product testing and technical consulting services. Contact: +86 0575-82780578 | Website: www.haishenchem.com
Each Q&A is self-contained and can be read independently without context.
A1: HEC (Hydroxyethyl Cellulose) is a non-ionic modified cellulose ether that dissolves in both cold and hot water to form transparent viscous solutions. It is widely used as a thickener, water retention agent and stabilizer in coatings, construction, oil and personal care industries.
A2: The core difference is solubility: HEC dissolves in both cold and hot water with no thermal gelation point and better salt resistance; HPMC only dissolves in cold water and has a thermal gelation temperature. HPMC is mostly used in building materials, while HEC performs better in coatings, paints and oil drilling.
A3: GinShiCel® HEC covers a viscosity range of 100–100,000 mPa·s (nominal value ±20%), covering thin coatings, standard paints, high-build mortars and drilling fluids.
A4: Yes. HEC is odorless, non-toxic and non-irritating, and is approved for use in cosmetics and daily chemical products.
A5: Yes. HEC has good thermal stability and no thermal gelation phenomenon, making it suitable for high-temperature processing and application scenarios.
A6: As a non-ionic cellulose ether, HEC has excellent compatibility with most inorganic salts and is suitable for high-electrolyte formulations.
A7: When stored in original sealed packaging in a cool, dry environment, HEC products have excellent stability and enzymatic degradation resistance, ensuring a long shelf life.
A8: Yes. Haishen offers customized HEC products including surface-treated grades with controlled dissolution rate and custom viscosity specifications.
A9: HEC is widely used in coatings (latex paint, stone paint, multi-color coatings), construction mortars, oil drilling fluids, cosmetics, textile printing and other industrial fields.
A10: Store in a dry, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Keep packaging sealed to prevent moisture absorption.
Founded in 1990 and located in Lihai Industrial Zone, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Haishen New Materials Co., Ltd. is a leading cellulose ether manufacturer in China. Under the GinShiCel® brand, the company produces HPMC, HEC, HEMC, HPC, MC, RDP, PVA, HPS and other specialty chemicals, serving building materials, coatings, oil drilling and other industries, with products exported to over 80 countries and regions worldwide.