Characteristics are not the same

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC): white or white fibre-like powder or granules belonging to various non-ionic types of cellulose blends. This product is a semi-synthetic, non-reactive viscoelastic polymer.

Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC): white or yellow, odourless, non-toxic fibrous or solid powder. The main raw materials are alkaline cellulose and ethylene oxide etherification, a non-ionic soluble cellulose ether.

Different uses

Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC): used as a thickener, dispersant and stabiliser in the coatings industry. Good phase solubility in water or organic solvents. It is also used as a paint stripper; as a dispersant in the production of polyvinyl chloride and is the main auxiliary in the preparation of PVC for suspension polymerisation; it is also widely used in the leather, paper products, fruit and vegetable preservation and textile industries.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC): used as an adhesive, surfactant, colloidal protectant, dispersant, emulsifier and dispersion stabilizer. It has a wide range of applications in coatings, inks, fibres, dyeing, paper making, cosmetics, pesticides, mineral processing, oil extraction and pharmaceuticals.

Different solubility

Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC): almost insoluble in anhydrous ethanol, ether, acetone; soluble in clear or slightly turbid colloidal solution in cold water.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC): able to prepare solutions of different viscosity ranges and has good salt solubility for electrolytes.