MC Methyl Cellulose
Methyl Cellulose is considered as safe, non-toxic, no irritation or sensitization cellulose ether. Low and medium viscosity MC can be used as binder and coating for tablets in pharmaceutical industries. High viscosity MC products are mainly used in food industry. It has good moisturizing thickening, emulsifying, film forming properties and impenetrability to oil, thus can decrease the absorption of oil in food and makes food healthier.
Methyl cellulose is a cellulose ether. White or light yellow or light gray small particles, filaments or powder. Odorless and tasteless, about 27% to 32% of the hydroxyl group exists in the form of methoxy. Different levels of methylcellulose have different degrees of polymerization, which range from 50 to 1000. Its molecular weight (average) ranges from 10,000 to 220,00Da, and its degree of substitution is defined as the average of the methoxy group, which is attached to each glucose anhydride unit in the chain.
It is almost insoluble in anhydrous ethanol, ether . It rapidly disperses and expands in hot water at 80 ~ 90 ° C, quickly dissolves after cooling, the aqueous solution is quite stable at room temperature, can gel at high temperature, and the gel can transform with the temperature and the solution. It has excellent wettability, dispersion, adhesion, thickening, emulsification, water retention and film formation, as well as oil impermeability. The film has excellent toughness, flexibility and transparency, because it is non-ionic, it can be compatible with other emulsifiers, but it is easy to salt-out, and the solution is stable in the pH range of 2-12. Apparent density: 0.30-0.70g/cm3, density about 1.3g/cm3. The theoretical substitution degree DS of methyl cellulose in industry is 1.5~2.0, and the loose density is 0.35 ~ 0.55g/cm3.