What are the reasons for the impaired water retention of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose?

Generally speaking, the higher the dosage, the higher the water retention rate, which means the better the water retention effect. Within the range of 0.25-0.6% dosage, the water retention rate increases more rapidly with the increase of dosage. However, as the dosage further increases, the increasing trend of water retention rate becomes slower.

The water retention of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose products themselves may be influenced by the following four reasons, as follows, for reference only.

1. The water retention of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is affected by viscosity. When the viscosity of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose increases, its water retention rate also increases. When the viscosity reaches a certain level, the increase in water retention rate tends to become gentle.

2. The water retention of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is influenced by the amount of addition. Generally, the higher the amount of addition, the higher the water retention rate, and the better the water-retaining effect. Within the range of 0.25-0.6% of addition, the water retention rate increases faster with the increase of addition. When the addition amount is further increased, the increase tendency of water retention rate becomes slower.

3. The water retention of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is affected by the gelation temperature. Generally, the higher the gelation temperature, the higher the water retention rate. Conversely, the lower the gelation temperature, the lower the water retention rate.

4. The water retention of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is influenced by uniformity. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose with uniform reaction, with methoxy and hydroxypropoxy evenly distributed, has high water retention rate.