1. Appearance characteristics
Cellulose ether is generally white or milky white, odorless, non-toxic, fluid fibrous powder, easy to absorb moisture, and dissolves in water into a transparent viscous stable colloid.
2. Film-forming and bonding properties
The etherification of cellulose ether has a great influence on its characteristics and properties, such as solubility, film-forming ability, bonding strength and salt resistance. Cellulose ether has high mechanical strength, flexibility, heat resistance and cold resistance, and has good compatibility with various resins and plasticizers. It can be used to make plastics, films, varnishes, adhesives, latex and drug coating materials.
3. Solubility
Methyl cellulose is soluble in cold water, insoluble in hot water, and also soluble in some organic solvents; methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose is soluble in cold water, insoluble in hot water and organic solvents. However, when the aqueous solution of methyl cellulose and methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose is heated, methyl cellulose and methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose will precipitate. Methyl cellulose precipitates at 45-60°C, while the precipitation temperature of mixed etherified methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose is increased to 65-80°C. When the temperature is lowered, the precipitate dissolves again. Hydroxyethyl cellulose and sodium carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose are soluble in water at any temperature, but insoluble in organic solvents.