Cellulose ether

The ethers of cellulose are derivatives of the Cellulose.

Synthesis

The synthesis of the ethers of cellulose is usually carried out with halides of alkyl. The etherification of the groupings hydroxyls which can be partial or total.

Properties

The properties of cellulose ethers vary with the degree of substitution of the functions hydroxyls and the degree of polymerization of the molecule.

Applications of cellulose ethers

The cellulose ethers according to their properties are employed in various industrial fields. Even if they are introduced into small proportions (some pourcents in weight), they modify the properties of materials significantly. Are used they to control the viscosity of a medium, in so much thickening or gelling for example in food industry, the drug company, paintings and the adhesives or in the cosmetics. They are also used as emulsifiers in food industry or the lacquers. They also make it possible to reduce certain plastic materials. Finally one uses them as protective colloids or to control the size of micelles in polymerizations in suspension.

Some important cellulose ethers

the methyl cellulose
ethylcellulose
the hydroxyethylcellulose
the hydroxypropylcellulose
the hydroxyéthyl-methyl cellulose
the hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose
the méthyléthylcellulose

Random links: