Overview
Methyl cellulose ester is a semi-synthetic polymer derived from cellulose, modified by introducing methyl groups to enhance its solubility and functional properties. This versatile compound bridges the gap between natural and synthetic polymers, offering unique characteristics like thermal gelation and biocompatibility. Industrially, it serves as a crucial additive across sectors due to its non-toxic nature and adjustable physical properties. The degree of substitution (DS) and molecular weight can be tailored during production to meet specific application requirements, making it a flexible solution for formulators.
Physical and Chemical Properties
The compound exhibits reversible thermal gelation – forming gels when heated and dissolving upon cooling – a rare property among water-soluble polymers. Its viscosity in solution depends on concentration, temperature, and DS value, with typical grades ranging from 15 to 15,000 mPa·s (1% aqueous solution at 20°C). Chemically, methyl cellulose ester demonstrates excellent stability across pH 3–11 and shows remarkable film-forming capability. The methyl substitution reduces crystallinity compared to native cellulose, enhancing water solubility while maintaining biodegradability under appropriate conditions.
Main Applications
In pharmaceuticals, it functions as a controlled-release matrix former and tablet coating agent, leveraging its gel-forming properties to modulate drug dissolution. The food industry utilizes it as a thickener and stabilizer in products like ice creams and vegan alternatives, where its thermal behavior prevents syneresis. The construction sector employs methyl cellulose ester in cement-based products as a water retention agent and workability enhancer, significantly improving mortar performance. Personal care formulations incorporate it for its non-irritating texture-modifying properties in shampoos and lotions.
Safety and Storage
Regarded as non-toxic by major regulatory bodies including FDA and EFSA for food applications, methyl cellulose ester requires standard industrial hygiene practices during handling. Prolonged exposure to dust may cause respiratory irritation, warranting proper ventilation or PPE in powder processing areas. Storage conditions significantly impact product stability. Moisture absorption can lead to caking, while excessive heat may degrade the polymer chains. Suppliers typically package the material in moisture-resistant containers with desiccants to maintain quality during transportation and warehousing.
B2B Procurement Guide
Industrial buyers should specify technical parameters including viscosity grade (e.g., E4, E15, E50), DS value (typically 1.3–2.0), and particle size distribution based on application needs. Food and pharmaceutical grades require additional certification documentation like USP/NF or FCC compliance statements. Leading manufacturers include Ashland, Dow Chemical, and Shin-Etsu, with regional suppliers offering competitive pricing for technical-grade materials. Bulk procurement (500kg+) often reduces unit costs by 15–30%. Consider requesting samples for performance testing under actual use conditions before large-volume purchases.
Related Manufacturers
- 主营：海藻酸钠、乳酸链球菌素、卡拉胶、羧甲基纤维素钠、L-硒-甲基硒代半胱、温轮胶、黄原胶、苯丙氨酸、亮氨酸、苏氨酸、谷氨酸、蛋氨酸、牛磺酸、谷氨酰胺、半胱氨酸、酪蛋白酸钠、柑橘黄、聚丙烯酸钠、柠檬酸、氨基丁酸、胍基乙酸、定优胶、干酪素
- 主营：甘氨酸、胍基乙酸、牛磺酸、沙蒿胶、黄原胶、卡拉胶、瓜尔豆胶、半胱氨酸、氨基丁酸、L-精氨酸、食品级亚硫酸氢钠、苯丙氨酸、谷氨酰胺、酪蛋白酸钠、胱氨酸、色氨酸、肌酸、富硒酵母、富铬酵母、氯化胆碱、魔芋粉、可可粉、L-抗坏血酸/vc、亮氨酸、干酪素/酪蛋白
- 主营：注射级海藻糖、三乙醇胺、甜菊糖苷、苯甲醇、二甲硅油、注射级甘露醇、牛磺酸、醋酸钠、木糖醇、黄原胶、甘露醇、大豆油、薄荷脑、注射级木糖醇、卡波姆、枸橼酸、磷酸氢二钠、磷酸氢二钾、明胶、十六醇、十八醇、聚维酮k30、注射级甘油
- 主营：丙酸钙、肉桂酸、维生素C/抗坏血酸、edta二钠、纳他霉素、抗氧剂264、抗坏血酸、双乙酸钠、聚赖氨酸、胍基乙酸、抗氧剂t501、抗氧剂1010、抗氧剂dltp、半胱氨酸盐酸盐、半胱氨酸、果胶、干酪素、苯丙氨酸、乳酸链球菌素、肉桂酸钾、色氨酸、牛磺酸、低聚木糖、酪蛋白酸钠、维生素C、vc
- 主营：海藻糖、柠檬酸、黄原胶、聚山梨酯、山嵛酸甘油酯、羟丙甲纤维素、羟苯甲酯钠、氯化钙、薄荷脑、泊洛沙姆、聚乙烯醇PVA、碳酸氢钠、注射蛋黄卵磷脂、注射大豆油、甘油、倍他环糊精、海藻酸钠、聚丙烯酸钠、酒石酸、丙二醇、聚乙二醇、HS15、聚氧乙烯40氢化蓖麻油
- 主营：硬脂酸镁、药用聚乙二醇、泊洛沙姆188、聚乙二醇—15羟基硬脂酸酯、巴斯夫进口蓖麻油聚烃氧酯EL35、微晶纤维素、羧甲淀粉钠、低取代羟丙纤维素、羟丙纤维素、羟丙甲纤维素、交联羧甲纤维素钠、亚什兰进口羟乙基纤维素、泊洛沙姆407、巴斯夫聚氧乙烯氢化蓖麻油RH40、巴斯夫进口Soluplus、聚维酮k30、聚维酮k90、乳糖、麦芽糊精、交联聚维酮、海藻糖、甘羟铝、聚丙烯酸钠、卡波姆
- 主营：薄荷脑、凡士林、聚乙二醇、卡波姆、甘油、明胶、蔗糖、丙二醇、蜂蜡、羟丙基倍他环糊精、聚维酮、聚丙烯酸树脂、海藻糖、石蜡、混合脂肪酸甘油脂
- 主营：泊洛沙姆188、泊洛沙姆407、聚乙烯醇、聚山梨酯、聚氧乙烯40氢化蓖麻、15-羟基硬脂酸、海藻糖、聚丙烯酸钠、甘羟铝、EL35
- 主营：二氧化硅、药用级聚维酮、硬脂酸镁、微晶纤维素、羟丙甲纤维素、注射级苯甲醇、中链甘油三酸酯、二甲基亚砜、药用级二氧化硅、注射级甘露醇、注射级甘油、注射级丙二醇、注射级磷酸氢二钠、注射级依地酸二钠、木糖醇、注射级海藻糖、注射级聚乙二醇400、注射级蔗糖、注射级乳糖、注射级大豆油、无水碳酸钠、无水磷酸二氢钠
- 主营：营养强化剂、抗氧化剂、甜味剂、食品级增稠剂、食用色素、酶制剂、粉末香精、酸度调节剂、食品乳化剂、着色剂、抗结剂、增味剂
- 主营：全氟三丁胺、二苄叉山梨醇、六氟丙烯二聚体、醋酸琥珀羟丙甲纤维素、六氟环氧丙烷二聚体、异丙醇铝、纳米勃姆石、二异戊基硫醚、隐色结晶紫、邻菲罗啉
- 主营：V50引发剂、偶氮二异丁咪唑啉盐酸盐、N-乙酰己内酰胺、甲基丙烯酸十二酯、甲基丙烯酸十六酯、甲基丙烯酸十八酯、丙烯酸十二酯、丙烯酸十六酯、丙烯酸十八酯、马来酸酯、缩水甘油酯、甲基咪唑、硅烷偶联剂、双马来酰亚胺、缩水甘油醚、N-异丙基丙烯酰胺、金属萃取剂
- 主营：叔碳酸、十八醛、溶菌酶、邻苯二甲、烷二甲醇、vc磷酸酯镁、2-甲基丁醛、海藻糖、癸二醇、氨基丙基、氢路噻嗪、乙基碳二、羟基癸酸、正十七烷、谷胱甘肽、松果体素、朱栾倍半萜、丁烷四乙酸、表面活性剂、癸烷撑二醇、缩水甘油邻、10-羟基羊蜡酸、氢氯噻嗪杂质、盐酸邻菲罗啉、壳聚糖季铵盐
- 主营：架桥剂、YW100 锂萃取剂、端羧基液体丁腈橡胶、乙烯基磷酸二乙酯、溴甲酚绿、原丁酸三甲酯、10-羟基癸酸、苯乙烯磷酸、肉豆蔻酸镁、硬脂酸钴、全氟三丁胺、磷酸锰铁锂、β-磷酸三钙、十一烯酸、钨酸铝、1-乙炔基环已醇、间二异丙苯、锂硅合金、生物活性玻璃、溴代海因树脂颗粒、红铝、龙涎酮
- 主营：水苏糖、阻燃剂、柠檬醛、甲酸镍、氢醌酯、球虫酯、西瓜酮、卡必醇、消泡剂、磷酸铁、肉桂醇、肉桂醛、碳酸镉、磷酸铝、银墨水、椰油胺、封装胶、化合物、桦木油、稀释剂、羟乙基、乙硫氮、润肤剂、矮壮素、异龙脑