Cellulose Ethers and Their Applications

As covered in our previous articles, the increasing production volume in the construction sector means that raw materials used also vary according to their performance characteristics. Among the products most consumed in the paints and construction chemicals market, cellulose ethers rank at the top. Cellulose ether raw material is high-purity cellulose and is produced from cotton linters and paper pulp depending on viscosity. Due to its primary source being wood, it is a natural polymer that is environmentally friendly. As a result of a special process called etherification, special cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), methylhydroxypropyl cellulose (MHPC) and others are produced, and these special forms have diverse applications in construction materials, paints and coatings industry, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and cleaning products. Its primary characteristic is its ability to retain water, and in the construction sector it is used to provide and enhance binding properties, ease of application, and water retention to products. While cellulose is insoluble in water, cellulose ethers produced through chemical synthesis as shown below are soluble in water. Cellulose + NaOH → Alkali cellulose + Monochloromethane/Ethylene oxide → MHEC+NaCl Cellulose + NaOH → Alkali cellulose + Monochloromethane/Propylene oxide → MHPC+NaCl Cellulose + NaOH → Alkali cellulose + Ethylene oxide →HEC SE Tylose, affiliated with the ShinEtsu group and holder of the first patent for cellulose ether, is among the leading producers in terms of capacity, manufacturing MC and HEC cellulose ether products under the Tylose® brand in Germany, Japan and the United States. Tylose® products are used in many end-product applications, imparting the following properties to the system: • Thickening (by increasing viscosity), • Water retention, • Shear strength, • Positive effect on adhesion, • Binding effect, • Assisting in film formation, • Easy application, • Acting like a surfactant by reducing surface tension, etc. Areas of use include construction products, water-based paints, personal care and cosmetics, household care and cleaning products, emulsion polymerization, pharmaceuticals and other applications. Water-based paints (interior walls, exterior walls, ceilings, etc.) have the effect of regulating rheology, providing thickening and easy applicability, and preventing sagging, dripping or spattering. On the other hand, it also has binding and open-time extension effects. Depending on formulation, it is recommended at a ratio of 0.2-0.5%, while in the final paint it supports increased gloss and wet scrub resistance. TYLOSE HS and TYLOSE H types are high-performance products for paint manufacturing. The most preferred types are: Tylose® HS 15000 YP2, Tylose® HS 30000 YP2 and Tylose® HS 100000 YP2.We can summarize classification and terminology in the table below. Tylose® in its various viscosity grades improves the rheological properties of water-based paints it contains, such as flow and non-splattering, storage stability, open-time application time, hiding power, and film-forming properties. Looking at the rheology and flow profile of Tylose® aqueous solution, it exhibits pseudoplastic flow properties (thinning under shear stress). It provides thickening by increasing viscosity. However, during application, viscosity decreases. Another important issue is that cellulose ethers retain water within themselves for extended periods, providing good adhesion to the surface and preventing cracking. Another common area of use for the construction sector is construction chemicals products. Tylose® MC types, in different viscosity ranges and degrees of modification, are used in cement-based mortars, tile/ceramic adhesives, decorative mortars, water-sealing products, coating products (ETICS), and self-leveling gypsum products, gypsum-based products, and generally impart the following properties to the system: • Water retention, • Viscosity increase, • Open time development, • Supporting adhesion, • Easy applicability, • Shear strength.Tylose® MC type, in products for the construction group, modified cellulose ethers are used only in dry mixes. They are not used in emulsion-based systems. Modified cellulose ethers provide better application, higher shear strength, and greater efficiency. For cement-based construction chemicals products, you can see our recommended specific Tylose® products in the table below. Gypsum is another binder for construction products and, since it is not as resistant to water as cement, is more commonly preferred for interior walls. Tylose® products, in construction products such as gypsum-based hand plaster, machine plaster, joint filler, adhesives, and repair mortars, with their capacity to retain water within themselves for extended periods, provide ease of workability and optimal viscosity, while also preventing lumping. The recommended TYLOSE types for gypsum-based products are as shown in the table. As Boysan Boya San. ve Tic. A.Ş., with our 49 years of technical and commercial experience, we are pleased to present products from SE TYLOSE, one of the world's largest cellulose ether manufacturers, to the market in Turkey. Tuğba Sadıç / Technical Director / Boysan A.Ş.