Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-01-22 Origin: Site
Our core product is HPMC for construction applications. Shijiazhuang Qingquan Cellulose can provide you with higher quality products and can also customize different viscosities according to your needs. Shijiazhuang Qingquan Cellulose Co., Ltd. is a cellulose manufacturer from China.
Cellulose ethers play an irreplaceable role in the production of building materials, especially dry-mix mortars. They are an indispensable component, particularly in the production of special mortars. The important functions of water-soluble cellulose ethers in mortar mainly include three aspects: excellent water retention capacity, influence on mortar consistency and thixotropy, and interaction with cement.
The water retention effect of cellulose ethers depends on the water absorption of the substrate, the composition of the mortar, the thickness of the mortar layer, the water demand of the mortar, and the setting time of the cementing material. The water retention of the cellulose ether itself comes from its solubility and dehydration effect. As is well known, although cellulose molecules contain a large number of highly hydrating OH groups, they are not soluble in water because of the highly crystalline structure of cellulose. The hydration capacity of the hydroxyl groups alone is not enough to overcome the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. Therefore, it only swells in water but does not dissolve. When substituents are introduced into the molecular chain, the substituents not only break the hydrogen bonds, but also disrupt the intermolecular hydrogen bonds due to the intercalation of substituents between adjacent chains. The larger the substituent, the greater the distance between molecules, and the greater the effect of breaking hydrogen bonds. After the cellulose lattice expands, the solution enters, and the cellulose ether becomes water-soluble, forming a high-viscosity solution. When the temperature rises, the hydration of the polymer weakens, and the water between the chains is expelled. When the dehydration is sufficient, the molecules begin to aggregate, forming a three-dimensional network structure gel. Factors affecting the water retention of mortar include the viscosity of the cellulose ether, the amount added, the particle size, and the operating temperature.
The higher the viscosity of the cellulose ether, the better the water retention performance. The viscosity of the polymer solution depends on the molecular weight (degree of polymerization) of the polymer, which is also determined by the length and morphology of the molecular chain. The type, quantity, and distribution of substituents also directly affect its viscosity range.
The viscosity of the polymer solution depends on the size of the polymer molecular weight. The viscosity and concentration of cellulose ether solutions are related to their applications in various fields. Therefore, each type of cellulose ether has many different viscosity specifications, and the adjustment of viscosity is mainly achieved through the degradation of alkali cellulose, i.e., the breaking of cellulose molecular chains.
