Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a gelling and thickening agent derived from
cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of β(1→4) linked D-glucose units. Cellulose is an important structural component of the primary cell w ...
. It is widely used in cosmetics, cleaning solutions, and other household products.
Hydroxyethyl cellulose and
methyl cellulose
Methyl cellulose (or methylcellulose) is a compound derived from cellulose. It is sold under a variety of trade names and is used as a thickener and emulsifier in various food and cosmetic products, and also as a bulk-forming laxative. Like cellu ...
are frequently used with hydrophobic drugs in capsule formulations, to improve the drugs' dissolution in the gastrointestinal fluids. This process is known as
hydrophilization.
Hydroxyethyl cellulose is also used extensively in the oil & gas industry as a drilling mud additive under the name HEC as well in industrial applications, paint & coatings, ceramics, adhesives, emulsion polymerization, inks, construction, welding rods, pencils and joint fillers.
Hydroxyethyl cellulose can be one of the main ingredients in water-based
personal lubricants
Personal lubricants (colloquially termed lube) are specialized lubricants used during Sexual activity, sexual acts, such as Sexual intercourse, intercourse and masturbation, to reduce friction to or between the Human penis, penis and vagina, anus ...
. It is also a key ingredient in the formation of big bubbles as it possesses the ability to
dissolve in water but also provide structural strength to the
soap bubble. Among other similar chemicals, it is often used as
slime
Slime may refer to:
Biology
* Slime mold, a broad term often referring to roughly six groups of Eukaryotes
* Biofilm, an aggregate of microorganisms in which cells adhere to each other and/or to a surface
* Slimy (fish), also known as the pony ...
(and
gunge, in the UK)
References
Cellulose
Cellulose ethers
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