Limitations of HEC Thickener & Solution to Overcome Them

For South East Asia water based decorative paint formulator, they are using variable rheology modifier to achieve their desired paint performance. At the same time, most of them still prefer to use hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) thickener as their first choice of rheology modifier.

Below is the reason for SEA paint formulator still prefer using HEC as first choice of rheology modifier in decorative paint:

• HEC thickener generally more efficient increase paint viscosity as compared with other rheology modifier
• It is easy to use as compared with Hase thickener
• It is 100% solid & powder form
• It is cost efficient for HEC thickener as compared with other Rheology modifier.

However, there is few disadvantages of HEC thickener. Hence, paint formulator still needs other rheology modifier to combine with HEC thickener in their paint formulation.

Below is disadvantage of HEC thickener:

• Poor leveling
• Poor spatter resistance
• Poor film build
• Poor water resistance

Bermocoll EHM series is a series of advanced HEC thickeners that can encounter above mentioned problem. Techology using hydrophobic groups as associative thickening in Hydrophobically modified Alkali Swellable Emulsions (HASE) & polyurethane (PUR) is adopted and hydrophobic groups are transplant onto cellulosic polmers to modif conventional HEC group into advance HEC group (Bermocoll EHM series).

The table below shows EHM grades available:

Below is interaction mechanism between Bermocoll EHM series with other raw materials in paint in order to build up the network & viscosity:

There are several noticeable efficacy owned by Bermocoll EHM series.

• Better film build & hiding

• Better Spattering Resistance

• Better Flow & Leveling

Our product details can be referred from the following:

Are you interested in other thickeners for paints application? Please check on our solutions from below.

For the further inquiries, please contact us below.