Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose with delayed solubility — the workhorse water-retention agent for cement and gypsum systems.
- Viscosity
- Multiple grades · see grade table
- Ionicity
- Non-ionic
- CAS
- 9004-65-3
- Tile adhesive
- Wall putty
- Gypsum plaster
Cellulose ether for construction
HPMC and Cellulose Ether for Dry-Mix Mortar, Putty and Tile Adhesive
Water retention, anti-sag and open time for tile adhesive, wall putty, gypsum plaster and waterproof mortar producers — with export documents ready for your market.
- 1
- metric ton minimum order, per grade
- 5–15
- days from order confirmation to dispatch
- 12
- working hours to a reply
- 80,000
- m² plant area
Product range
Four additive families, one supply chain
HPMC is in production today. MHEC, HEC and RDP are planned for the next release — tell us which one you need and we will prioritise it.
MHEC
Coming soonMethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose for systems where higher thermal gel temperature is required.
- Viscosity
- On request
- Ionicity
- Non-ionic
- CAS
- On request
- Dry-mix mortar
Available on request
HEC
Coming soonHydroxyethyl cellulose with instant solubility, mainly for water-based paints and emulsions.
- Viscosity
- On request
- Ionicity
- Non-ionic
- CAS
- On request
- Water-based paint
Available on request
RDP
Coming soonRedispersible polymer powder for adhesion and flexibility in dry-mix mortars.
- Type
- VAE / VAc-E
- Ionicity
- Non-ionic
- CAS
- On request
- Tile adhesive
- EIFS
Available on request
Applications
Find the additive for your production line
Eight families of dry-mix mortar and coatings, each with its own dosage band and compatibility notes.
Tile Adhesive
Water retention and anti-sag for C1 / C2 / C2TE classified adhesives.
Coming soon
Wall Putty
Smooth trowelling, crack resistance and open time for skim coats.
Coming soon
Gypsum Plaster
Controls setting time and water demand in machine-applied plasters.
Coming soon
Waterproof Mortar
Dense film formation and adhesion on wet substrates.
Coming soon
Self-leveling
Flow control and anti-segregation for floor compounds.
Coming soon
Masonry Mortar
Workability and water retention in rendering and brick mortars.
Coming soon
Water-based Paint
Thickening and rheology control in emulsion paints.
Coming soon
EIFS / ETICS
Adhesion and flexibility in external insulation systems.
Coming soon
Why ALCellu
Six things procurement can verify before the first order
Nothing below is a slogan. Each of the six points is something you can check with us before the first order — on a retained sample, on a document, or on a call.
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Batch-to-batch consistency
Every batch is sampled and held, and viscosity is re-measured on a Brookfield viscometer at 2% in water and 20 °C — the same condition printed in the TDS. The COA for that batch is written from that measurement.
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Cellulosic expertise
Making cellulose ether since 2012. Technical questions go to Jack Liu, Technical Manager — 8 years in cellulose ether and construction chemical additives.
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Application & formulation support
Support runs from grade choice to the first production run: we read your mix design, propose a starting grade and dosage band, and review compatibility against the additives already in the formula.
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Flexible MOQ & mixed container
1 metric ton per grade is the minimum order. Mixed-container combinations with other grades: available on request.
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Export documents ready
A TDS, an SDS, the batch COA and a Certificate of Origin go out with every shipment. Ask your sales contact and we send the current revision by email.
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Reply within 12 working hours
Every enquiry is answered inside that window. Technical questions are routed to the engineer who handles your product line, not to a shared inbox.
Consistency
Batch-to-batch variation is the real purchase risk
Viscosity is the parameter that decides how the mortar behaves on site. When it drifts, water retention drifts with it: the mix opens later or dries too fast, sag resistance on vertical work changes, and a formulation that passed in the lab starts cracking or slipping in the plant. Nobody sees it in a bag — only in the finished mix.
So control starts upstream. Incoming cellulose pulp is checked before it enters etherification, the reaction is run to a target substitution, and the batch is re-measured on a Brookfield viscometer at 2% in water and 20 °C before it is released. A retained sample from every batch stays on file against its COA, so if a container behaves differently we can trace it back to the run that made it.
Batch COA issued with every shipment
Testing equipment on every batch
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Brookfield viscometer
Viscosity at 2% in water, 20 °C, 20 rpm — the same condition printed in the TDS.
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Halogen moisture analyser
Moisture is the parameter that drifts first in hot and humid climates.
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Muffle furnace
Ash content indicates residual salts from the etherification route.
Formulation support
ALCellu Formulate™
Four steps between your current mix design and a running production line — the same sequence whether you are reformulating an existing product or starting from a new one.
1
Grade selection
We start from your binder system, sand source and target classification — C1 or C2 for tile adhesive, the retention your putty needs — and narrow the choice to the viscosity band that fits.
2
Dosage optimisation
We test downward from your current dosage against your own sand and water demand, because the useful answer is the lowest dose that still holds open time and anti-sag in your mix.
3
Compatibility testing
HPMC does not work alone in a dry mix. We check the grade against your RDP, starch ether, calcium formate and retarder: starch ether shifts sag and workability, while the set regulator moves open time and initial set.
4
On-site troubleshooting
When cracking, sagging or delayed setting shows up on the line, we work back through water demand, dosage and mixing sequence with your production team to isolate the variable that changed.
Supply & delivery
Packaging, payment and paperwork
What arrives, how it is packed, and what comes with it. Lead time from order confirmation is 5–15 days.
Packaging
25 kg multi-layer paper bag with PE liner; 500 / 1000 kg jumbo bag
Minimum order
1 metric ton per grade
Payment terms
T/T / L/C / Alipay / VISA
Shipping documents
TDS, SDS, batch COA and Certificate of Origin with every shipment
Technical library
Read before you reformulate
Formulation guide
How Much HPMC in Tile Adhesive? Dosage by C1 / C2 Grade
Dosage is set by the EN 12004 class and by sand quality, not by the viscosity alone. The article walks through the starting points and the correction steps.
Coming soon
Selection guide
HPMC Viscosity Grade Selection: Low, Medium or High
A higher viscosity is not automatically better. This guide maps the three viscosity bands to the applications where each one actually pays off.
Coming soon
Comparison
HPMC vs MHEC vs HEC: Which Cellulose Ether for Your System
Water retention, gel temperature and cost behave differently across the three ethers. The comparison table shows where each one is the wrong choice.
Coming soon
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order quantity for HPMC?
MOQ is set per grade and per packaging format, and mixed containers are possible for trial orders. Send the grade, the packing you prefer and your destination port, and we confirm MOQ together with the packing list in the same reply.
Can I get a free sample before ordering?
Yes. A free sample is available for evaluation, and it ships from stock rather than from a production run, so it reflects the grade you will actually receive. Tell us the application and the reference dosage so the sample can be checked against your current material.
What is the standard lead time?
Lead time depends on the grade and on whether the packing is standard or custom-printed. Standard grades ship from stock; custom packing is scheduled against the production plan. Your quotation states the lead time for the exact quantity and packing quoted.
Can we switch from our current HPMC supplier without reformulating?
Usually the substitution is direct when viscosity, substitution degree and dissolution behaviour match. Batch-to-batch variation is the practical risk, so a side-by-side trial at your existing dosage is the normal route before a full container order.
Can viscosity or substitution degree be customised?
Viscosity is available in defined bands rather than as a continuous free parameter, and substitution degree is fixed by the production route. Send the target value and the volume you expect, and we confirm which band can be produced and at what MOQ.
Which payment terms do you accept?
Terms are agreed per order and depend on the destination and on whether the relationship is new. The quotation states the accepted terms explicitly, so there is no separate negotiation step after the price is agreed.
Get a 200 g free sample — shipped from stock
Tell us the application and the reference dosage, and we send a sample that matches the grade you would actually order. Reply within 12 working hours.