Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
Water Solubility: It demonstrates ready solubility in aqueous systems, facilitating its broad utilization across pharmaceutical and food industries.
Temperature-Responsive Behavior: The material undergoes reversible sol-gel transition upon thermal cycling, enabling applications requiring tunable viscoelastic properties.
Surface-Active Properties: Upon drying, it forms continuous films suitable for coating formulations, adhesive systems, and controlled-release matrices.
Stability and Safety Profile: Exhibiting robust stability under standard conditions, it features low toxicity and compatibility with diverse formulation components.
Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) is a methyl cellulose derivative in which hydroxypropyl and methyl groups are ether-bonded to the anhydrous glucose ring. It is typically supplied as a white to off-white fibrous powder, granular solid, or particulate material, with various grades differing in methoxy and hydroxypropyl substitution ratios.
HPMC dissolves in water and selected organic solvents, though it remains insoluble in ethanol. Its aqueous solutions display surface activity and form continuous films upon drying. A distinctive property is its reversible thermal gelation behavior, undergoing sol-to-gel transition upon heating and returning to solution upon cooling, making it valuable for temperature-responsive applications in pharmaceutical, food, and coating technologies.
Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose Chemical Properties
Melting point | 225-230 °C |
density | 1.39 |
storage temp. | room temp |
solubility | H2O: 50 mg/mL, clear to very faintly turbid, faintly yellow |
form | powder |
color | White to cream |
Odor | Odorless |
PH | 5.0-8.0 |
biological source | plant |
Water Solubility | SOLUBLE |
Merck | 14,4842 |
Stability: | Stable. Solid is combustible, incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. |
EPA Substance Registry System | 2-Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (9004-65-3) |
Safety Information
Safety Statements | 24/25 |
WGK Germany | 1 |
RTECS | NF9125000 |
F | 3-10 |
TSCA | Yes |
HS Code | 39129000 |
