HPMC Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Description

HPMC Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose   ,is a regular stock of Genome Specialities FZC which is a versatile semi-synthetic cellulose ether derived from naturally occurring cellulose.

Suppliers typically provide it as a white to off-white, odorless, free-flowing powder or granules.

HPMC is used by pharmaceutical, construction, food, personal care, and other sectors due to its excellent thickening, binding, water-retention, film-forming, stabilizing, and rheology-modifying properties.

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Chemical Properties and Structure of HPMC 

Property	Details
Product Name	Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC)
Chemical Type	Semi-synthetic cellulose ether
Chemical Formula	[(C₆H₇O₂(OH)₃₋ₓ(OCH₃)ₓ(OCH₂CH(OH)CH₃)ᵧ)ₙ]
CAS Number	9004-65-3
Molar Mass	Variable (polymeric compound)
Appearance	White to off-white powder or granules
Odor	Odorless
Taste	Tasteless
Solubility	Soluble in cold water; insoluble in hot water
pH (2% solution)	5.5 – 8.0
Density (bulk)	~0.30–0.50 g/cm³
Moisture Content	≤ 5% (typical)
Thermal Gelation	Forms gel upon heating (reversible on cooling)
Decomposition Temperature	> 200 °C (decomposes, no true melting point)
Viscosity	Varies by grade (e.g., 3–100,000 mPa·s at 2% solution, 20 °C)
Stability	Stable under normal storage conditions
Compatibility	Compatible with many salts, surfactants, and polymers

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Key Functional Properties

HPMC offers a combination of functional properties that makes it suitable for a broad range of formulations:

Thickening:

Increases viscosity and improves product consistency.

Binding:

Helps bind powders and ingredients together, particularly in pharmaceutical formulations.

Film Formation:

Produces smooth, flexible films suitable for coatings and encapsulation.

Water Retention: Reduces rapid water loss and improves workability in construction materials.

Rheology Modification: Controls flow, spreadability, and application characteristics.

Stabilization: Helps maintain uniformity and stability in formulated products.

Thermal Gelation:

when heated Forms a reversible gel and returns to solution upon cooling.

Applications of HPMC

Pharmaceutical and Medical

Tablet and Capsule Formulations:

Used as a pharmaceutical excipient. It functions as a binder, thickener, film-forming agent, and controlled-release polymer. Depending on the grade and formulation, it can help regulate the release of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Film Coating:
Used in tablet and pellet coatings to provide a protective film, improve appearance, facilitate swallowing, and help mask unpleasant tastes or odors.

Ophthalmic Formulations:
Used as viscosity-enhancing and lubricating agents in ophthalmic products, including artificial tears and eye drops.

Construction

Tile Adhesives and Cement-Based Mortars:
HPMC improves water retention, workability, adhesion, open time, and application characteristics.

control the rheology of cement-based formulations and reduces premature water loss during curing.

Gypsum Plasters and Joint Compounds:
HPMC improves consistency, spreadability, water retention, and anti-sag properties, contributing to easier application and improved finishing.

Self-Leveling and Dry-Mix Mortars:
Appropriate HPMC grades can improve flow behavior, water retention, adhesion, and overall handling performance.

Food Industry

used as a functional additive in selected food applications. It can act as a:

• Thickener
• Stabilizer
• Emulsifier
• Film-forming agent
• Binder
• Texture modifier

Used in applications such as sauces, dressings, processed foods, and certain gluten-free bakery products, subject to applicable food regulations and grade requirements.

Personal Care and Home Care

incorporated into lotions, creams, shampoos, liquid formulations, detergents, and other personal or home-care products.

It helps improve viscosity, texture, stability, suspension, and overall product appearance.

HPMC Grades

HPMC is available in a wide range of grades.

Grades are differentiated by viscosity, degree of substitution, substitution pattern, particle characteristics, purity, and intended application.

Low-Viscosity Grades

viscosities below approximately 500 mPa·s, depending on the measurement conditions and grade specification  and suitable

for applications requiring relatively low viscosity while still providing binding, film-forming, or water-retention properties.

Typical applications include pharmaceutical coatings, certain liquid formulations, and selected construction products.

Medium-Viscosity Grades

Medium-viscosity grades generally fall within approximately 500–20,000 mPa·s under specified test conditions.

These grades provide a balance between thickening, flow, water retention, and workability.

used  it for tile adhesives, cementitious plasters, gypsum products, food formulations, cosmetics, and other applications where moderate viscosity control is required.

High-Viscosity Grades

High-viscosity HPMC grades generally exceed 20,000 mPa·s under specified measurement conditions.

They provide stronger thickening, water-retention, and rheology-modifying effects and may be used in applications requiring enhanced viscosity and formulation stability

 

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