CELLOSIZE™ Hydroxyethylcellulose

CELLOSIZE™ Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) is a line of nonionic, water-soluble, cellulose based polymers from Dow.  Hydroxyethyl cellulose is produced by treating reacting alkali-cellulose with ethylene oxide.  This reaction converts some of the hydroxyl groups on the cellulose polymer to hydroxyethyl groups.  The resulting polymer is a cellulose ether that is primarily used as a thickener for water-based paint, ink, and adhesive formulations.

CELLOSIZE™ Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) grades are defined by their molecular weight or more specifically the viscosity of the aqueous solution that they produce at 2% by weight.  For example, CELLOSIZE™ QP-300 will produce a solution of 300 cPs when added to water at 2%.  Solutions of low molecular weight CELLOSIZE™ grades have a rheology that is near Newtonian and useful for applications that require a stable viscosity regardless of shear.  Solutions of high molecular weight CELLOSIZE™, however, behave in a non-Newtonian manner and will have a pseudo-plastic rheology.  This pseudoplasticity makes high viscosity grades of CELLOSIZE™ Hydroxyethylcellulose an ideal thickener for latex paint applications where the paint must stay on the brush, yet flow out easily upon brushing.

In addition to its useful nature as a thickening agent, CELLOSIZE Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) also provides the benefits of a suspension aid, binder, emulsifier, film former, emulsion stabilizer, dispersant, water retention aid, and protective colloid.

CELLOSIZE™ Hydroxyethylcellulose offers narrow viscosity ranges, consistent viscosity reproducibility, and excellent solution clarities. The applications for CELLOSIZE™ range but in the industrial space it is primarily used for general thickening applications in latex paints, household cleaners and tape-joint compounds.  Select a grade below for more information or contact us to speak with one of our dedicated product experts.


ChemPoint is a Dow authorized supplier of CELLOSIZE™ Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) in industrial applications, providing dedicated marketing, sales, order fulfillment, and technical support for customers located in the US, Canada, and  Western Europe.

CELLOSIZE™ Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) addresses several challenges:

Viscosity Issues: Addresses issues related to inconsistent viscosity in products such as paints and adhesives, ensuring better application and performance.

Stability Concerns: Acts as a stabilizer and alleviates problems of separation or deposition of ingredients in formulations, particularly in emulsions and suspensions.

Water Retention Challenges: Address difficulties in maintaining water content, improving workability, and extending drying times in building materials.

Poor adhesion: Improves the adhesion properties of adhesives, contributing to improved stickiness and bonding.

Insufficient film formation: Improves film formation on the surface, ensuring an even and stable film, especially for coatings.

Rheology modification requirements: Modifies flow behavior to address handling and application issues in various formulations.