Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a gelling and thickening agent derived from
cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of glycosidic bond, β(1→4) linked glucose, D-glucose units. Cellulose is an important s ...
. It is widely used in cosmetics, cleaning solutions, and other household products.
Hydroxyethyl cellulose and
methyl cellulose 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 and gas industry as a drilling mud additive under the name HEC as well in industrial applications, paint and 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, Huma ...
. It is also a key ingredient in the formation of large bubbles as it possesses the ability to
dissolve in water but also provide structural strength to the
soap bubble
A soap bubble (commonly referred to as simply a bubble) is an extremely thin soap film, film of soap or detergent and water enclosing air that forms a hollow sphere with an iridescent surface. Soap bubbles usually last for only a few seconds b ...
. Among other similar chemicals, it is often used as
slime
Slime or slimy may refer to:
Science and technology Biology
* Slime coat, the coating of mucus covering the body of all fish
* Slime mold, an informal name for several eukaryotic organisms
* Biofilm, or slime, a syntrophic community of micr ...
(and
gunge, in the UK).
Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is a commonly used thickener in paint & coating formulations. HEC thickeners are used in paint & coating formulations to increase the viscosity of the paint and to improve its flow and leveling properties.
References
Cellulose
Cellulose ethers
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