What is cellulose ether?

Cellulose ether is a polymer compound with an ether structure made from cellulose. Each glucose ring in cellulose macromolecules contains three hydroxyl groups, the primary hydroxyl group on the sixth carbon atom, and the secondary hydroxyl group on the second and third carbon atoms. The hydrogen in the hydroxyl group is replaced by hydrocarbon groups to form cellulose ether derivatives. It is the product of hydroxyl hydrogen being replaced by hydrocarbon groups in cellulose polymers. Cellulose is a polyhydroxy polymer compound that neither dissolves nor melts. After etherification, cellulose can dissolve in water, dilute alkaline solutions, and organic solvents, and has thermoplastic properties.

After etherification, the solubility of cellulose undergoes significant changes and can be dissolved in water, dilute acid, dilute alkali, or organic solvents. The solubility mainly depends on three factors: (1) the characteristics of the introduced groups during etherification, the larger the introduced groups, the lower the solubility, the stronger the polarity of the introduced groups, and the easier the cellulose ether is to dissolve in water; (2) The degree of substitution and the distribution of etherification groups in macromolecules. Most cellulose ethers can only dissolve in water under certain degree of substitution conditions, with a degree of substitution between 0 and 3; (3) The degree of polymerization of cellulose ether, the higher the degree of polymerization, the less soluble it is; The lower the degree of polymerization, the wider the range of substitutability that can be dissolved in water. Cellulose ethers have a wide variety of varieties and excellent performance, and are widely used in industries such as construction, cement, petroleum, food, textiles, detergents, coatings, pharmaceuticals, papermaking, and electronic components.

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