Natrosol™ Plus and PolySurf™ cetyl modified hydroxyethylcellulose INCI Name: Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose (HMHEC)
Hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose (HMHEC) is made in a two-step reaction. The first is the standard reaction of alkali-cellulose with ethylene oxide to produce HEC. The second step is a cetyl substitution, which provides the hydrophobic end groups. The resultant nonionic polymer is purified and dried. HMHEC for personal care and cosmetic applications is sold as Natrosol Plus 330 CS and PolySurf™ 67 CS.
HMHEC polymers are unique in that they function as associative thickeners, meaning they not only thicken aqueous systems via chain entanglement and conventional hydrogen bonding, but also via hydrophobe interactions. In solution, hydrophobe groups seek out other
hydrophobes, including oils and pigments, forming weak interactions and effectively creating a three-dimensional polymer network.
The hydrophobic modification imparts many unique properties to HMHEC polymers including pseudoplastic shear thinning behavior, high salt tolerance and long-term stability over a very wide pH range (3.5-11). Furthermore, HMHEC also behaves as a polymeric co-emulsifier and can be used to stabilize O/W emulsions without the use of conventional high HLB, water-soluble surfactants, thus removing the major component leading to skin irritation and enabling a much milder formulation.
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Product Availability
- Asia Pacific
- Europe, Middle East, Africa, India
- Latin America and South America
- North America
Application InformationWant to know more about how our products are used?
Natrosol Plus and PolySurf HMHEC are commonly used in a wide variety of applications in the personal care industry including shampoos and conditioners and hair styling products.
• Provides stability for complex anionic, cationic or non-ionic surfactant systems
• Thickens cationic emulsions efficiently
Natrosol Plus and PolySurf HMHEC are commonly used in a wide variety of applications in the personal care and medical industries including liquid soaps and body washes, wipes (baby and adult), makeup/mascara, antiperspirant/deodorant solids and lubricant gels.
• Provides elegant, non-tacky skin feel
• Enables manufacture of mild emulsions
Document LibraryInformation available to download for this product.
- Technical Information
- PolySurf™ 67 Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Natrosol™ Plus CS, Grade 330 (HMHEC) Personal Care Grade
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Additional InformationNeed more information about this product?
| Typical Properties | Natrosol Plus HMHEC | PolySurf 67 CS HMHEC |
| Brookfield viscosity, 1% solution, cps | 150 - 550 | 9,000 - 14,000 |
| Average molecular weight | 350,000 | 550,000 |
| Moisture content, % maximum | 5 | 5 |
| Ash content, % maximum, calculated as Na2SO4 | 5 | 5 |