Methyl Cellulose (MC) Supplier in Malaysia
- Also known as
- Methylcellulose
- MC
- Cellulose Methyl Ether
- E461
Methyl cellulose is the methyl ether of cellulose, a non-ionic, cold-water soluble powder sold as MC or as food additive E461. ChemTrade takes methyl cellulose enquiries across Malaysia and matches the quotation to the viscosity grade a formulation is written around.
Its defining property is thermal gelation. The solution thickens and sets into a gel as it warms, then returns to a solution once it cools, which is the reverse of how most food and construction thickeners behave. Formulators use that to bind a plant-based patty while it cooks and to hold mixing water in mortar against an absorbent substrate.
Grades run from low to very high viscosity, with food, pharmaceutical and construction material, fine or granular powder, and surface-treated powder that disperses before it thickens. Viscosity figures only compare when the concentration, temperature and test method come with them.
Send the viscosity target and its test basis, the grade type, quantity and delivery location with your enquiry. Packing, documentation and timing are confirmed at quotation stage.
- CAS number
- 9004-67-5
- Grade
- low viscosity, medium viscosity, high viscosity, food, construction
- Appearance
- white to off-white, free-flowing powder
Methyl Cellulose 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-viscosity methyl cellulose | fine free-flowing powder | — | Solutions that must stay sprayable or pumpable at higher solids, including film-coating liquids and thin batters that need body without drag. | Pack format is confirmed with the quotation. |
| Medium-viscosity methyl cellulose | free-flowing powder | — | General thickening, suspension and moisture control in sauces, dressings, creams and water-based industrial formulations. | Pack format is confirmed with the quotation. |
| High-viscosity methyl cellulose | free-flowing powder | — | Maximum viscosity build and gel firmness per unit added, where a formulation has to hold its shape once heat sets the gel. | Pack format is confirmed with the quotation. |
| Food-grade methyl cellulose (E461) | white powder | — | Binding and heat-set structure in plant-based patties and sausages, plus bakery, batter, sauce and frozen-dessert work where E461 is the specified additive. | Pack format is confirmed with the quotation. |
| Pharmaceutical-grade methyl cellulose | white powder | — | Tablet binding, film coating and bulk-forming or ophthalmic formulations, where the documentation requirement should be stated with the enquiry. | Pack format is confirmed with the quotation. |
| Construction-grade methyl cellulose | powder, fine or granular | — | Water retention, open time and slip in tile adhesive, render, plaster, skim coat and self-levelling compounds, with granular material chosen for dry-mix plant dosing. | Pack format is confirmed with the quotation. |
| Surface-treated methyl cellulose | treated free-flowing powder | — | Delays thickening long enough for the particles to wet out, which helps when the powder is tipped straight into water during batch mixing. | Pack format is confirmed with the quotation. |
How to buy methyl cellulose from ChemTrade
Request a quote for methyl cellulose
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 | — |
| CAS number | 9004-67-5 | — |
| Polymer type | non-ionic methyl ether of cellulose | — |
| Solubility | dissolves in cold water to a clear or slightly hazy solution; solubility falls as the solution is heated | — |
| Viscosity | grade dependent, and comparable only when the solution concentration, temperature and test method are quoted alongside it | — |
| Thermal behaviour | forms a thermally reversible gel on heating and returns to solution on cooling; the gel onset temperature depends on the grade | — |
| Particle size | grade dependent, offered as fine or granular powder | — |
| Food additive code | E461 on food-grade material | — |
Methyl Cellulose applications
Safety and handling
Hold the powder in sealed containers in dry conditions, because absorbed moisture causes lumping and slows dispersion. Control dust while charging vessels, and work to the safety information supplied for the grade quoted.
Common questions about methyl cellulose
Is methylcellulose the same as methyl cellulose?
Yes, the same material. Both spellings, closed and spaced, describe the methyl ether of cellulose, and MC and E461 refer to it as well. Suppliers and technical data sheets use whichever style they prefer, so match the grade designation rather than the spelling.
How does methyl cellulose differ from HPMC?
HPMC carries hydroxypropyl substitution in addition to methyl groups, which shifts its gel onset temperature, water-retention profile and tolerance of salts and surfactants. Methyl cellulose is the plain methyl ether, with no hydroxypropyl groups on the chain. The two are not interchangeable in a formulation that has already been developed, so state which ether the specification calls for and at what viscosity.
Which viscosity grade of methyl cellulose should I order?
Send the viscosity you need with the test basis attached, meaning the solution concentration, the temperature and the method. Low, medium and high labels are producer specific and do not map onto each other. If a current grade code is in use, quote it, because that is the fastest way to match the material.
Why does methyl cellulose gel when heated?
Warming the solution weakens the water structure around the methyl groups, so the polymer chains associate and set into a gel, then redissolve as the solution cools. That reversible behaviour is what makes it useful for binding plant-based meat during cooking and for holding mortar water in place on a warm substrate.
How should methyl cellulose powder be dispersed without lumps?
One common route is to disperse the powder in hot water first, where it does not dissolve, then cool the mix with agitation so hydration happens evenly. Dry blending it with sugar or another dry ingredient also separates the particles. Surface-treated grades are made for direct addition to cold water during batch mixing.
What details are needed for a methyl cellulose price enquiry?
Provide the viscosity grade and test basis, the grade type such as food, pharmaceutical or construction, the powder form, the quantity and the delivery location. Note the documentation you need with the shipment so it is covered in the same quotation.