Cellulose Ether for Detergents & Personal Care

Thickening & Stabilizing Solutions – LANDU

Stability Challenges in Modern Detergent Systems

n many detergent and personal care formulations, performance issues do not appear immediately after production, but develop during storage, transport, or temperature changes.

A liquid detergent that looks stable at the filling stage may later show:

Gradual viscosity loss after a few weeks
Phase separation in surfactant-rich systems
Unstable foam performance during use
Poor suspension of fragrances or active ingredients
Texture changes in creams and gel-based products

In most cases, these instabilities are not caused by surfactants themselves, but by insufficient control of the rheological structure within the system.

This is why polymer selection—especially cellulose ether—plays a critical role in formulation stability.

LANDU: Cellulose Ether for Detergents & Personal Care

What Cellulose Ether Does in Detergent & Personal Care Systems

Cellulose ether is a multifunctional polymer used to control flow behavior and stabilize complex surfactant systems.

It typically functions as:

Rheology modifier (controls viscosity and flow behavior)
Stabilizer (prevents phase separation)
Suspension aid (keeps particles evenly distributed)
Foam structure enhancer (improves foam stability)
Texture modifier (improves sensory performance in personal care)

Unlike simple thickeners, cellulose ether influences the overall system stability rather than only viscosity increase.

Benefits：

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: White or off-white fibrous/granular powder; odorless and tasteless.

Solubility: Insoluble in anhydrous ethanol, ether, and acetone; soluble in cold water to forma transparent colloidal solution.

The degree of substitution (Ds/Ms) of cellu-lose ether directly affects the performance.Generally, the higher the degree of substitu-tion, the better the performance.

The viscosity of cellulose ether solutionreflects its molecular weight. The higherthe viscosity, the stronger the thicken-ing and water retention properties.

Cellulose ether solution is a thixotropicnon-Newtonian fluid with thixotropy. It hashigh viscosity when standing still anddecreases when the shear force increases.

The viscosity of cellulose ether solutionincreases rapidly with the increase of itssolution concentration.

LANDU Product Recommend Table

Application / Grade	HPMC				HEC			CMC
	MP4M	MP15M	MP30M	MP200M	HE4M	HE30M	HE100M	CM1000	CM4M	CM6M	CM10M	CM60M	CM100M	CM200M
Cleaning Products
Dishwashing Detergent			●	●		●	●
Laundry Detergent			●	●		●	●
Floor Cleaner			●	●		●	●
Solid-toilet-cleaner									●			●	●
Fabric Softener					●		●
Personal Care Products
Hand Sanitizer	●	●				●	●
Disinfectant Hand Sanitizer	●	●
Shampoo			●
Hair conditioner							●
Body Wash			●				●
Mask, Skin Care, Lotion, Toner						●	●
Facial Cleaner						●	●
Toothpaste								●	●		●	●

Application Areas of Cellulose Ether in Cleaning and Personal Care Systems

Cellulose ether is widely used across home care and personal care formulations as a multifunctional rheology and stability modifier.

Toothpaste Formulations

Used as a binder and rheology modifier to improve paste uniformity and extrusion performance.

Stable viscosity and texture control
Improved dispersion of abrasive agents
Easy rinsing with no residue

Laundry, Dishwashing & Surface Cleaners

Widely used in liquid cleaning systems as a stabilizer and thickener.

Viscosity control in surfactant systems
Suspension of active ingredients and soils
Anti-redeposition performance during washing
Compatible with anionic and non-ionic surfactants

Toilet Cleaner Tablets (Solid Systems)

Acts as a structural binder and controlled-release matrix.

Maintains structural integrity of solid blocks
Controls dissolution rate
Improves formulation stability during storage

Hand Sanitizer & Disinfectant Gels

Provides rheology control and improves sensory performance in alcohol-based systems.

Non-sticky gel texture
Improved skin feel
Transparent formulation compatibility
Film-forming and moisturizing support

Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash

Enhances viscosity, texture, and sensory profile in personal care systems.

Smooth and stable rheology
Improved spreadability and rinse performance
Mild formulation compatibility

Facial Care Products (Creams, Lotions, Cleansers)

Used to stabilize emulsions and improve product texture.

Emulsion stability improvement
Light and smooth sensory feel
Moisture retention support
Suitable for sensitive skin formulations

LANDU Cellulose Ether Solutions for Cleaning Formulations

LANDU supplies industrial-grade cellulose ether designed for detergent and personal care manufacturers requiring stable and scalable formulation performance.

Our product portfolio supports different formulation systems:

HEC (Hydroxyethyl Cellulose)

A widely used thickening and stabilizing polymer for liquid surfactant systems.

Excellent viscosity control in aqueous systems
High compatibility with surfactants
Suitable for transparent formulations
Stable performance in liquid detergents

HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose)

Designed for systems requiring balanced rheology and film-forming properties.

Stable viscosity across temperature range
Improved texture and application feel
Suitable for gels, creams, and hybrid systems

CMC (Carboxymethyl Cellulose)

A functional polymer used primarily in detergent systems.

Strong anti-redeposition performance
Excellent soil suspension capability
Effective in powder and liquid detergents

Customized Functional Systems

LANDU also develops tailored solutions for specific formulation needs.

Adjusted viscosity curves
Surfactant compatibility optimization
System-specific performance tuning

Why Choose LANDU for Detergents & Personal Care

LANDU supports industrial formulators with consistent material performance and application-oriented technical understanding.

We Offer:

Try our Detergents & Personal Care chemical products risk-free!

With LANDU, you get accurate products, reliable quality, and outstanding service. Simply send us a message, and we’ll take care of everything!

Partner with LANDU - Your Professional Detergents & Personal Care Manufacturer

Expert Formulation Support

Key advantages:

Stable batch-to-batch performance for industrial production
Strong compatibility with common surfactant systems
Reliable viscosity control in complex formulations
Suitable for both clear and opaque systems
Technical support for formulation optimization

Quality and Innovation Commitment

LANDU holds ISO 9001 and EU REACH certification. Our products are exported to over 60 countries with extensive experience working with multinational corporations.

Large Volume Order Capability

With three major factories and 75,000 tons of annual production capacity, we can quickly deliver large orders of Redispersible Polymer Powder.

FAQs - Detergents & Personal Care

Everything you need to know about LANDU's Detergents & Personal Care production and quality control

1. Why does liquid detergent viscosity decrease during storage?

Viscosity loss is usually caused by instability in the polymer-surfactant network, especially under temperature fluctuation or high electrolyte conditions. Selecting the appropriate cellulose ether helps maintain long-term rheological stability in detergent systems.

2. Which cellulose ether is best for liquid detergent formulations?

HEC is commonly used in liquid detergents because of its strong thickening efficiency, surfactant compatibility, and stable viscosity performance. LANDU HEC grades are widely applied in household cleaning formulations requiring stable flow behavior and suspension performance.

3. How can phase separation in detergent systems be reduced?

Phase separation often occurs when the rheological structure is not strong enough to stabilize surfactants and active ingredients. Proper cellulose ether selection improves formulation stability and helps maintain uniform system consistency.

4. What thickener works best in alcohol-based hand sanitizers?

Alcohol-based sanitizers require thickeners with good alcohol compatibility and transparency. Cellulose ether can improve gel texture, reduce stickiness, and support fast-drying performance while maintaining formulation stability.

5. Why is cellulose ether used in shampoos and body wash products?

In personal care systems, cellulose ether improves viscosity, texture smoothness, and overall sensory performance. It also helps stabilize formulations and creates a milder application experience.

6. What is the difference between HEC and HPMC in personal care formulations?

HEC is typically preferred for transparent liquid systems and surfactant compatibility, while HPMC is more commonly used when film-forming performance and structured texture are required.

7. Can cellulose ether improve suspension performance in cleaning products?

Yes. Cellulose ether helps suspend particles, fragrances, and active ingredients evenly throughout the formulation, reducing settling and improving product consistency during storage.

8. How does LANDU support detergent and personal care manufacturers?

LANDU provides industrial cellulose ether solutions for detergent and personal care formulations, including viscosity optimization, surfactant compatibility support, and application-based material selection for different production systems.