HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose) Supplier in Malaysia
- Also known as
- Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
- Hypromellose
- E464
- Methyl Hydroxypropyl Cellulose
ChemTrade supplies HPMC to construction, pharmaceutical and food manufacturers across Malaysia. Sold as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hypromellose or E464, it is the cellulose ether that holds water in a cement mix and thickens a water based formulation. We carry it in 25 kg bags of Chinese origin.
Viscosity is how HPMC is ordered, so it is the first thing to tell us. Our stocked range runs from 15,000 to 200,000 mPa·s as the nominal 2% figure, and a retarded grade is available where the powder has to be dispersed before it starts to thicken.
Construction is the largest use here. Tile adhesive, render, skim coat, wall putty and self-levelling compound all rely on HPMC for water retention, open time and slip resistance. Pharmaceutical buyers take it as a tablet binder, film coat and sustained release matrix, and our K-type grade is substitution type 2208.
Send the viscosity and quantity and we will quote. If you know the application but not the grade, describe what the mix has to do and we will name one.
- CAS number
- 9004-65-3
- Grade
- construction, pharmaceutical, food
- Appearance
- white to off-white free-flowing powder
- Availability
- Local stock
HPMC grades and forms
We supply several forms to suit different formulating and dosing setups. If you need a size that is not listed, ask us.
| Grade | Form | Assay | Typical use | Packing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile adhesive and render grade | white powder | 15,000 to 75,000 mPa·s | The volume grade in this market. Holds mixing water in the mortar bed so cement hydrates instead of the substrate drinking it, which is what gives open time, slip resistance and bond strength. Used in cement tile adhesive, rendering mortar and masonry mortar. | 25 kg bag |
| Skim coat and putty grade | white powder | 75,000 to 100,000 mPa·s | Higher build than the adhesive grades, for wall putty and skim coat where the material has to stay workable on a vertical surface and trowel smoothly without dragging. Also used in plaster and jointing compound. | 25 kg bag |
| High viscosity grade | white powder | 100,000 to 200,000 mPa·s | Where a low addition rate has to carry a lot of viscosity, so it suits self-levelling compound, extrusion aids and thick bed mortars. Also the grade paint and detergent formulators take as a thickener. | 25 kg bag |
| Retarded grade | white powder | — | Surface treated so it dissolves slowly and lets the mix be dispersed before it thickens, which stops lumping in continuous mixing plant. Order this where the powder goes in dry and the water is added downstream. | 25 kg bag |
| Pharmaceutical grade | white powder | substitution type 2208 | Tablet binder, film coating polymer and the matrix in sustained release formulations, and the shell material in vegetarian capsules. Specify the monograph you formulate against and the substitution type when you enquire. | 20 or 25 kg bag |
How to buy HPMC from ChemTrade
Request a quote for HPMC
Use the form below to request a quotation. You can also email sales@chemtrademalaysia.com or send us a message on WhatsApp.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | white to off-white free-flowing powder | — |
| Odour and taste | odourless and tasteless | — |
| Solubility | soluble in cold water, insoluble in hot water above the gel point | — |
| Viscosity range stocked | 15,000 to 200,000 mPa·s | nominal, 2% solution at 20 °C |
| Methoxyl content (type 2208) | 19.0 to 24.0 % | USP hypromellose monograph |
| Hydroxypropoxyl content (type 2208) | 7.0 to 12.0 % | USP hypromellose monograph |
| Thermal gelation | gels on heating and redissolves on cooling, reversible | — |
HPMC applications
Safety and handling
Store sealed in a cool, dry place. HPMC is hygroscopic, so an opened bag left standing draws moisture, cakes, and disperses badly on the next batch. The dry powder is a nuisance dust, so wear safety glasses and a dust mask when charging bags by hand and avoid raising a cloud. Spilled powder turns extremely slippery once it gets wet, so sweep it up dry before washing the floor.
Common questions about HPMC
Which viscosity should I order?
Viscosity is how HPMC is specified, so it is the first thing to tell us. Cement tile adhesive and render generally run on the 15,000 to 75,000 mPa·s band, skim coat and wall putty higher, and self-levelling compound and extrusion higher again. If you are matching an existing supply, send the grade designation you buy against and we will source to it rather than send you the nearest number.
Is HPMC halal?
It is made by etherifying plant cellulose, with no animal derived input at any stage, which is why it is used in Malaysian food manufacturing and in vegetarian capsule shells in place of gelatin. Formal certification is held by the producer and differs by plant and by grade, so say you need it when you enquire and we will confirm what certificate covers the grade being quoted before you commit.
What is the difference between HPMC, CMC and HEC?
Three different cellulose ethers with different substituents, and they are not interchangeable. HPMC is non-ionic, gels on heating and is the one cement mortars are built on, because it holds water in the bed. CMC is anionic and salt sensitive, which suits food and detergent work. HEC is non-ionic and does not gel, which is why paint formulators favour it. We supply all three on separate pages, so tell us the job if you are not sure which the formulation calls for.
Why does our mix go lumpy when we add the HPMC?
Tipping dry powder into still water skins the outside of each lump and the centre never wets through. Feed it into a vortex, or dry blend it with the cement or filler first so the particles arrive separated. If the powder has to meet water immediately in continuous plant, order the retarded grade, which is surface treated to delay dissolution until the mix is dispersed.
Can you supply pharmaceutical grade, and which substitution type?
Yes. Our K-type item is substitution type 2208 under the USP hypromellose monograph, and other types are sourced to order. Tell us the monograph you formulate against, the substitution type and the nominal viscosity, and we will confirm what documentation comes with the grade before you commit to a batch.
What packing do you supply, and what is the smallest quantity?
25 kg bags are the standard and some grades come in 20 kg. We sell by the bag and by the pallet for manufacturing use, not in retail portions, so if you need a kilogram for a trial a laboratory supplier will serve you better than we can. We work with several producers, so other packing can usually be arranged.
Can you send a safety data sheet and a certificate of analysis?
Yes. Ask with your enquiry and both come with the quotation, and the certificate of analysis is issued against the batch you are being offered rather than a generic sheet. Tell us if your incoming inspection tests a parameter we have not listed and we will confirm it before you order.