Categorisation:
WALOCEL™ M products are divided into five product lines according to their type and degree of etherification:
| WALOCEL™ XM | Modified HEMC product especially for emulsion paints (“latex paints”) and latex based systems (ready to use plaster, render, etc...). |
| WALOCEL™ MTX | HEMC product for emulsion paints |
| WALOCEL™ MW | HEMC with a medium degree of etherification for dispersion based and mineral based building material systems |
| WALOCEL™ MKX | HEMC with a medium to high degree of etherification, wide range of applications; specifically for mineral bound systems such as tile adhesives, plasters and renders, masonry mortars, EIFS adhesives etc. |
| WALOCEL ™ MK/MKS | HPMC with a high to medium degree of etherification for gypsum or cement based systems |
We are continually developing further WALOCEL M products.
Grade coding system (nomenclature)
WALOCEL is a registered trademark of Dow Wolff Cellulosics. The type of substitution is denoted by the letter M for methyl cellulose. The letters W, K, and X stand for the degree of substitution. The number placed after this shows the product’s mean viscosity. The letters following that denote the particle size, solubility and nature or finish of the product:
Particle Size |
Solubility |
Nature or Finish |
| G: Granules | O: also soluble in organic solvents | B: surfaced treated |
| P: Powder | ||
| PF: Powder, fine | V: delayed solubility (adjustable via pH value) | |
| PP: Powder, very fine |
|
This nomenclature may be suffixed with further numbers (e.g. 15, 20, 40, 50) and in some cases letters (E, L), which refer to the modification of the product. The larger the number, the greater the additional thickening effect and the higher the system’s water demand will be. The special E grade enhances the yield of plaster mortar, and the L grade increases the slip resistance (anti-sagging effect) of tile adhesives whilst making the adhesive easier to stir and apply.
An example of the grade coding system (nomenclature): WALOCEL MW 40000 PFV
WALOCEL™ registered trademark of Dow Wolff Cellulosics
M type of substitution
W degree of substitution
40000 mean viscosity in mPa·s, 2% solution, measured with a Haake rotary viscometer at 20°C and a shear rate of 2.55 1/s.
PF powder, fine
V delayed solubility.
Properties
| Ion activity | non-ionic |
| Surface activity | high |
| Solubility | soluble in cold water; in some special cases soluble in organic solvents |
| Water retention | can be individually adapted over a wide range |
| Effect of temperature on the solution | viscosity initially decreases with rising temperature, but then increases until a gel is formed; then methyl cellulose flocculates; these processes are reversible |
| Effect of pH | high solubility at all pH levels |
| Effect of monovalent metal ions | high salt concentrations may cause coagulation (reversible) |
| Effect of polyvalent metal ions | no complexation, therefore no flocculation |
| Film formation | good to very good film-forming properties |
Beneficial effects
WALOCEL M products can be used in all applications requiring thickening, gelling, emulsifying, suspending, absorbing, stabilising, bonding, film-forming and water retention.
They are ideal for selectively controlling the rheological properties and consistency of building materials, so that they become creamy, do not stick to trowels etc., and remain workable for a long time. The water demand and yield of a building material system can be precisely regulated. Above all, WALOCEL M provides building materials with the temperature-stable high water retention they require for optimum workability and assured setting, hardening or curing.
The properties and effectiveness of WALOCEL M products are defined by specific product features, which include
