Three Cellulose Ethers of Zhejiang Haishen New Materials Empower Waterborne Coatings Upgrading and Lead Innovation in Green Coating Materials

With over 30 years of dedicated engagement in the Cellulose Ether sector, Zhejiang Haishen New Materials Co., Ltd. has independently R&D and manufactured three major product series—hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethyl methylcellulose (HEMC) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). Endowed with excellent functional properties and consistent product quality, these products have become an important pillar for boosting the high-quality development of the waterborne coatings industry, and are now serving coating enterprises across more than 80 countries and regions worldwide.

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) has become a "performance stabilizer" in waterborne coatings due to its excellent thickening and water retention properties. In coating formulations, HPMC can effectively increase the viscosity of coatings, prevent the sedimentation and stratification of pigments and fillers, and ensure the stability of coatings during storage and transportation. Meanwhile, its outstanding water retention capacity can slow down the drying speed of coatings during construction, avoid defects such as brush marks and pinholes caused by excessively fast drying, and significantly improve the leveling property and application feel of coatings. Especially in the field of architectural waterborne coatings, the addition of HPMC enables coatings to better adapt to different substrates and construction environments, thus ensuring the uniformity and durability of the coating effect.

Hydroxyethyl methylcellulose (HEMC) demonstrates unique advantages in waterborne coatings with its excellent enzyme resistance and salt tolerance. Compared with other cellulose ethers, HEMC has a stronger resistance to microbial degradation, which can effectively extend the shelf life of waterborne coatings and reduce performance degradation caused by coating spoilage. Meanwhile, it can maintain a stable thickening effect even in coating systems containing electrolytes, making it suitable for special waterborne coatings added with various functional additives. In the field of industrial waterborne coatings, the application of HEMC can improve the corrosion resistance and adhesion of coatings, helping coatings better meet the complex coating requirements of industrial workpieces.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), as a cellulose ether with excellent water solubility, mainly plays the roles of dispersion and film-forming assistance in waterborne coatings. HEC has good surface activity, which can effectively disperse pigment particles in coatings, prevent particle agglomeration, and enhance the tinting strength and hiding power of coatings. Meanwhile, in the film-forming process, it can synergize with other film-forming substances to improve the flexibility and scrub resistance of the paint film. In fields such as waterborne wood coatings and waterborne leather coatings, the addition of HEC can make the paint film smoother and finer, thus enhancing the appearance texture and service performance of the products.

"Cellulose ethers are the 'lifeblood' of waterborne coatings, and the stability of their quality is directly tied to the product competitiveness of coating enterprises." By precisely controlling key indicators such as degree of etherification and viscosity, the company realizes customized production of its three major cellulose ether product series. It can provide flexible solutions tailored to the formulation requirements and application scenarios of different coating enterprises, helping customers optimize their formulations and reduce overall costs. In recent years, the three major cellulose ether products of Zhejiang Haishen have made multiple appearances at international industry events such as the Asia-Pacific Coatings Show and the Moscow Coatings Exhibition in Russia, attracting attention and cooperation from coating enterprises worldwide with their differentiated advantages.

Backed by over 30 years of technical accumulation, a comprehensive quality control system and a global service network, Zhejiang Haishen’s three major cellulose ether products are continuously empowering the application upgrading of waterborne coatings across construction, industrial, daily chemical and other sectors. Looking ahead, as green coating technologies keep evolving, our company will continue to focus on technological innovation in the cellulose ether field, launch more high-performance products, and provide premium material solutions for the green transformation of the global coatings industry.