METHOCEL™ - High Performance Thickeners for Coatings

What is METHOCEL™?

METHOCEL™ cellulose ethers are a family of water soluble methylcellulose (MC) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) polymers that are used to effectively thicken latex paints.  Latex paints thickened with METHOCEL™ offer a number of benefits.

Stability

Expiration of latex paints is typically determined by a loss of viscosity and loss of pigment suspension.  The shelf life of latex paints can be extended when METHOCEL™ is used as a thickener and rheology modifier.  METHOCEL™ is more resistant to enzymes released by microbes than other cellulose thickeners.  This and pH stability from pH 3 to 11 allow for METHOCEL™ thickened latex paints to maintain uniform viscosity regardless of age or pH.  Additionally, latex paints that have lost viscosity due to spoilage can be rethickened with METHOCEL™ to achieve a proper and stable viscosity.

Easy Application

Due to the pseudoplastic nature of METHOCEL™, latex paints thickened with the polymers exhibit exceptional application properties.  METHOCEL™ improves the loading of the paint onto brushes and rollers.  In addition, flow, leveling,  and spreadibility are improved due to the rheology modifier.

Film Durability

Water based architectural coatings are subjected to harsh conditions on a regular basis.  They need to be able to withstand cleaning chemicals, scrubbing, rain, and condensation.  The addition of METHOCEL™ to water based paints and coatings helps to improve the durability and resistance to chemicals and moisture.  Additionally, pin-hole formation is reduced and film uniformity is improved over surfaces with varying porosity.
 

Selecting the Proper Grade of METHOCEL™

Selection of METHOCEL™ grades is determined by two main criteria: viscosity (molecular weight) and degree of substitution.  These criteria can be identified by the nomenclature of the grade.  For example:

 

Substitution

METHOCEL™ are polymers based on cellulose that have had hydroxyl functional groups substituted for methoxyl and hydroxypropyl functional groups.  The degree and nature of substitution varies and can be identified by the first letter in the name of the grade.
 

Chemistry	A	E	F	J	K
% MeO	27.5-31.5	28.0-30.0	27.0-30.0	16.5-20.0	19.0-24.0
% HP	0	7.0-12.0	4.0-7.5	23.0-32.0	25.0-32.0

The amount and type of substitution lend to differences in organosolubility and thermal gelation temperatures of the polymers when using these in formulations.  In general, the organosolubility of METHOCEL™ is increased as hydroxypropyl substitution is increased, and the thermal gelation temperature of METHOCEL™ decreases with increasing methoxyl substitution. Organic solvents may be used in latex paint formulations to increase film-formation properties. Therefore, the "J" and "K" chemistry is typically recommended as they are compatible with most cosolvents used to improve film formation.

Viscosity

The viscosity of solutions produced by METHOCEL™ in water varies from grade to grade based on the molecular weight of the polymer. Many options exist to provide the paint formulator with the right level of thickening needed per application. The mean viscosity of a solution of 2% METHOCEL™ in water is reported in each grade by a number and a "multiplier" letter, with C being 100 and M being 1000.  For example, the grade listed above, J75MS, would have a viscosity of 75,000 mPa*s at 2 wt% in water.  The viscosity of solutions thickened with METHOCEL™ will also vary based on the concentration in which they are added and the solvent(s) used.  The graph below shows the viscosity imparted by common METHOCEL™ grades in DI water at varying concentrations.

 

Another important factor to consider regarding the rheology of solutions containing METHOCEL™ is that psuedoplasticity will increase as the molecular weight of the polymer and concentration increases. This means that the viscosity of solutions thickened by higher-molecular weight METHOCEL™ grades will become lower as shear increases. The graphs below highlight this relationship.

 

Surface Treatment
The final attribute that needs to be considered when selecting a METHOCEL™ grade is the surface treatment.  Grades of METHOCEL™ that are denoted with an "S" after the "multiplier letter" for viscosity are surface treated with glyoxal for delayed hydration. These will only begin to hydrate and thicken after the pH adjustment of the solution to raise the pH to 9. This allows for METHOCEL™ to be adequately dispersed in the solvent prior to hydration, preventing clumping.

Preparing Solutions of METHOCEL™

Untreated Powders

Untreated METHOCEL™ powders are soluble in cold water and some organic solvents. For water-based solutions, they must first be thoroughly dispersed to prevent lumping. METHOCEL™ powders are not soluble in hot water. Dispersion of untreated powders can therefore be performed by mixing METHOCEL™ with 1/3 of the required volume of water heated to ~90°C. Once METHOCEL™ is evenly dispersed, the remaining volume of water can be added as ice or cold water. This lowers the dispersion temperature to a level at which the METHOCEL™ will be water-soluble, thus allowing it to begin to hydrate and thicken solutions.

Surface Treated Powders

Surface-treated grades of METHOCEL™ can be added directly to pH-neutral aqueous systems and dispersed rather easily with mild agitation. Once the surface-treated METHOCEL™ is evenly dispersed, hydration can be triggered by a pH adjustment with a small amount of alkali to 8.5-9.0. Once hydration is complete, the pH of the system can be re-adjusted. Solutions with METHOCEL™ are stable from pH 3-11. Due to the relative ease of preparation, surface-treated grades of METHOCEL™ are typically recommended for use in latex paints and coatings.

Conclusion

METHOCEL™ cellulose ethers are a useful tool for formulators of water-based architectural paints and coatings to optimize and control the viscosity and rheology of formulations. When used to thicken paints and coatings, METHOCEL™ offers improved viscosity and pigment stability, increased dry film durability, easier brush loading, improved spreadability, and decreased splattering. Click here to view all the available METHOCEL™ grades. Alternatively, contact us below to discuss the METHOCEL™ rheology modifiers for your architectural paint formulation.