Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), also known as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, is a non-ionic cellulose ether obtained by chemically modifying natural cellulose. It appears as a white or off-white fibrous or granular powder, and is mainly classified into grades such as 1828, 2208, 2906, and 2910 based on the content of methoxy and hydroxypropoxy substituents.
This substance swells in cold water to form a clear or slightly cloudy colloidal solution, exhibiting thickening, film-forming, water-retaining, and binding properties, and is chemically stable. HPMC has a wide range of applications. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is commonly used as a binder, disintegrant, sustained-release matrix material for tablets, and capsule material; in the food industry, it is used as a thickener and stabilizer; in the building materials industry, it is an important water-retaining and thickening agent; and it is also used in cosmetics, personal care products, and coatings, among other industries.
