Building grade HPMC used in the construction industry
Properties of building grade hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)
- Solubility: HPMC is soluble in water and some organic solvents, even in cold water. The maximum concentration is determined by viscosity, with solubility increasing as the viscosity decreases.
- Salt resistance: HPMC is a non-ionic cellulose ether and exhibits stability in aqueous solutions containing metal salts or organic electrolytes. However, excessive addition of electrolytes can cause coagulation and sedimentation.
- Surface activity: The aqueous solution of HPMC displays surface activity, allowing it to function as a colloidal protective agent, emulsifier, and dispersant.
- Thermal gel: Upon heating, the aqueous solution of HPMC becomes opaque, gels, and forms a precipitate. However, upon cooling, it reverts back to its original solution state. The gel and precipitation temperature depend on the presence of lubricants, suspending agents, protective colloids, emulsifiers, and other factors.
Mildew resistance: HPMC exhibits good mildew resistance and maintains viscosity stability during long-term storage.
pH stability: The viscosity of HPMC aqueous solution remains relatively unaffected by acid or alkali, demonstrating stability in the pH range of 3.0 to 11.0.
Shape retention: The addition of highly concentrated HPMC aqueous solution enhances the viscoelastic properties and improves the shape retention of extruded ceramic products.
Water retention: HPMC for construction functions as an efficient water retention agent due to its excellent hydrophilicity and high viscosity in aqueous solutions.
In addition to the above properties, HPMC also serves as a thickener, film-forming agent, adhesive, lubricant, suspending agent, protective colloid, and emulsifier.
Advantages of building-grade hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in the construction industry
Performance Highlights
- Easy Mixing: It effortlessly blends with dry powder formulas and quickly dissolves without forming clumps upon adding water.
- Enhanced Water Retention and Thickening: Provides excellent water retention and thickening effects to mortar.
- Effective Solid Particle Suspension: Effectively suspends solid particles, resulting in a smoother and more uniform mixture.
- Improved Workability: Enhances the lubricity and plasticity of mortar, making construction more convenient and efficient.
- Extended Open Time: Enhances water retention properties, extending the open time of mortar.
- Enhanced Adhesive Strength: Increases the bonding strength of ceramic tile adhesive through its own viscosity.
- Anti-Crack and Anti-Shrinkage: Improves the anti-crack shrinkage and anti-cracking properties by enhancing the mortar’s air content.
- Enhanced Anti-Sag Resistance: Boosts the anti-sag resistance of ceramic tile adhesive.
- Slip Prevention: Improves work efficiency by preventing mortar and ceramic tiles from slipping.
Application of Building grade Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose in the Construction industry
– Excellent water retention, extending construction time and improving work efficiency.
– High lubricity facilitates easier and smoother construction, providing a smooth and even texture on the putty surface.
– High viscosity (generally 100,000 to 150,000 viscosity) enhances putty adhesion to the wall.
– Enhances shrinkage resistance, crack resistance, and surface quality.
– Recommended dosage: 0.3~0.4% for interior walls; 0.4~0.5% for exterior walls.
– Enhances adhesion to the wall surface and improves water retention, thereby boosting mortar strength.
– Improves lubricity and plasticity to enhance construction performance.
– Controls air infiltration, eliminating micro-cracks and achieving a smooth surface.
– Recommended dosage: general mortar 0.1~0.3%; thermal insulation mortar 0.3~0.6%; interface agent 0.3~0.6%.
– Improves uniformity, making plaster slurry easier to apply.
– Enhances resistance to sagging, fluidity, and pumpability, improving work efficiency.
– High water retention extends mortar working time and increases mechanical strength during solidification.
– Controls mortar consistency to achieve a high-quality surface coating.
– Recommended dosage: 0.1~0.3% for gypsum plaster; 0.1~0.2% for gypsum-based products.
Cement-Based Plasters and Masonry Mortars
– Improves uniformity, making insulation mortar easier to apply and increasing resistance to sagging.
– High water retention extends mortar working time, improving work efficiency and mechanical strength during solidification.
– Special water retention suitable for highly water-absorbent bricks.
Panel Caulking Compounds
– Excellent water retention extends open time and improves work efficiency.
– High lubricity facilitates easier and smoother construction.
– Enhances shrinkage resistance, crack resistance, and surface quality.
– Provides a smooth and uniform texture, making the joint surface more adhesive.
– Recommended dosage: approximately 0.2%.
– Ensures easy mixing of dry mortars, saving working time and improving construction efficiency.
– Extends open time, enhancing tiling efficiency.
– Provides excellent adhesion and high slip resistance.
Reference dosage: approximately 0.2%
– Acts as an anti-sedimentation additive, providing viscosity.
– Enhances fluidity and pumpability, improving floor paving efficiency.
– Controls water retention, greatly reducing cracking and shrinkage.
Reference dosage: approximately 0.5%
– Prevents solids from settling, extending shelf life.
– Compatible with other components and exhibits high biological stability.
– Facilitates quick dissolution without clumps, simplifying the mixing process.
– Promotes favorable flow properties, including low splatter and good leveling, ensuring excellent surface finish and preventing dripping.
– Enhances viscosity to prevent paint remover from flowing off the workpiece surface.
Reference dosage: approximately 0.05%
Extruded Concrete Panels
– Enhances processability of extruded products, providing high bonding strength and lubricity.
– Improves wet strength and sheet adhesion after extrusion.
Reference dosage: approximately 0.05%
For more information, product TDS, COA, SDS, and free samples
