TEXTURECEL™ Cellulose Ethers

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is a polymer that is based on cellulose in which the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose polymer have been partially replaced by carboxymethyl groups via acid hydrolysis. While it is best known for its use in ophthalmic lubricants, sodium CMC is used in many industrial applications as well including paint, ink, coating, adhesive, lubricant, and lithium ion batteries.  It is most commonly used as a thickener to increase the viscosity and control the flow of water-based formulations.  Carboxymethyl cellulose can also be used as a binder to form durable, oil resistant films.

TEXTURECEL™ Cellulose Ethers, formerly known as WALOCEL™, are a line of anionic, water-soluble, sodium carboxymethylcellulose polymers from DuPont. They are produced by treating the polysaccharide backbone of alkali cellulose with chloroacetic acid to yield highly purified sodium carboxymethylcellulose polymers with tight molecular weight and carboxymethyl substitution specifications.   

TEXTURECEL™ carboxymethylcellulose polymers are water soluble at all temperatures and can be used to make CMC solutions with useful properties. Solutions produced with TEXTURECEL™ have a pseudoplastic rheology and are most often used to control the viscosity of water-based formulations.  The viscosity of TEXTURECEL™ solutions is dependent on the concentration of TEXTURECEL™ in the solution as well as the molecular weight of the carboxymethylcellulose polymer.  Larger molecular weight grades of TEXTURCEL™ yield higher solution viscosities and viscosity will build dramatically by increasing the concentration.  Rheology is also affected by molecular weight and concentration.  Solutions of high molecular weight TEXTURECEL® exhibit more shear thinning characteristics than low molecular weight grades.  Pseudoplasticity also increases with the concentration of the solution.

TEXTURECEL™ carboxymethylcellulose is commercially available in a variety grades that vary in molecular weight, substitution, and particle size.  More information on specific grades and their specifications is available in the linked grade pages below.

Sag, drip, and creep of water based formulation due to improper viscosity and rheology
Poor green strength of adhesives and ceramics