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| "Synonyms:Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose Sodium CMC ，Na-CMC，SCMC Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt Cellulose carboxymethyl ether sodium salt Molecular Formula:C6H12O6 Molecular Weight: 180.15588 HS Code: 3912310000 Grade:Food Grade Viscosity 2000-2500 99.6% Hazard Class:General Cargo" | |||||||||
9004-32-4
bosschem
9004-32-4
1. Product Overview
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC; cellulose gum; sodium carboxymethyl cellulose; CAS 9004-32-4) is the most widely used water-soluble cellulose ether — a white, odorless, tasteless powder that swells in cold or hot water to form clear, viscous, non-toxic solutions. By attaching carboxymethyl groups to the natural cellulose backbone (from wood pulp or cotton linter), CMC becomes water-soluble and gains three core jobs: thickening, stabilizing and film-forming. It is the registered food additive E466, used in ice cream, mayonnaise, beverages, gluten-free and reduced-fat foods, baked goods and wine; a CIR/EUCOSMETICS-listed cosmetic ingredient found in more than half of cosmetic products (toothpaste, shampoos, creams, sunscreens); a viscosity and fluid-loss-control polymer in oil-field drilling muds; a soil-suspension and thickening agent in detergents; and a binder, size and coating polymer in paper, textiles, paints and even lithium-ion battery electrodes.
Core value propositions:
● Food-Grade Thickener & Stabilizer (Core Application): E466 — ice cream, beverages, bakery, sauces and gluten-free/reduced-fat products;
● Cosmetic-Grade Versatility: thickening, binding, film-forming and viscosity control in toothpaste, hair care, skincare and sunscreens;
● Industrial Workhorse: drilling-fluid viscosity/fluid-loss control, detergent soil suspension, paper/textile binders, battery electrode binders;
2. Product Information (Quick Facts)
Item | Specification |
Chemical Name | Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt) |
Synonyms | CMC; cellulose gum; carmellose sodium; sodium cellulose glycolate |
CAS No. | 9004-32-4 |
EC No. (EINECS) | 618-378-6 |
Appearance | White to slightly yellowish, odorless, tasteless granular or fibrous powder (hygroscopic) |
Solubility | Swells and dissolves in cold or hot water forming clear viscous solutions; insoluble in ethanol, acetone and most organic solvents |
3. Chemistry & Structure
CMC is a cellulose derivative in which carboxymethyl groups (-CH₂-COONa) are bound to some of the hydroxyl groups of the glucopyranose monomers of the cellulose backbone, by Williamson etherification: cellulose is first activated with caustic soda, then alkylated with sodium monochloroacetate (chloroacetic acid). Alkylation occurs at the 2-, 3- and 6-hydroxyl positions. The degree of substitution (DS — how many hydroxyl groups per glucose unit are converted) and the chain length together determine solubility, viscosity and behavior: at the commercial DS range of roughly 0.5–1.5 the material is water-soluble, forming clear, viscous, pseudoplastic solutions that are stable over a wide pH range.
4. Key Features & Benefits
● Water-soluble cellulose ether: dissolves in cold or hot water with high thickening efficiency.
● Food-grade compliance: E466 — FDA food additive (anticaking, emulsifier, stabilizer/thickener, texturizer) and JECFA-classified emulsifier/stabilizer/thickener.
● Cosmetic-grade versatility: thickening, binding, film-forming and viscosity control (EUCOSMETICS; used in over 50% of cosmetic products).
● Green & safe: not classified under GHS (97.3% of ECHA C&L reports); EPA Safer Choice Green Circle; non-toxic, hypoallergenic.
● Multi-industry utility: food, cosmetics, drilling fluids, detergents, paper, textiles, paints and battery electrodes.
● Consistent quality: controlled viscosity, DS, purity and moisture with COA.
5. Main Applications
5.1 Food & Beverage — Thickener and Stabilizer (Core Application, E466)
CMC is a registered food additive used to thicken, stabilize emulsions and control texture:
● Ice cream and frozen desserts: stabilizes texture and ice crystals; widely used in the industry.
● Beverages: rich mouthfeel; stabilizes protein in acidified protein drinks to prevent precipitation.
● Bakery: breads and cakes with improved texture at reduced cost (fat reduction); emulsifier in sweet biscuits.
● Gluten-free and reduced-fat products: structure and moisture control.
● Wine: tartrate and cold stability, inhibiting tartrate crystal growth.
● Mayonnaise, candy, chewing gum, margarine and peanut butter: emulsifying and texturizing.
5.2 Cosmetics & Personal Care
● Used in over 50% of cosmetic products as a thickening agent with precisely controlled viscosity.
● Toothpaste and makeup: texture and consistency control.
● Hair care: used in about 25% of shampoos and conditioners for conditioning and detangling.
● Skincare: moisture retention; film-forming agent in about 10% of sunscreens.
5.3 Oil & Gas Drilling Fluids
● Drilling muds: increases viscosity and builds a network structure, enhancing suspension capacity.
● Fluid-loss control: manages penetration and loss of moisture; protects the wellbore.
● Fracturing fluids: ultra-high-viscosity grades carry fillers into oil wells.
5.4 Detergents & Cleaning Products
● Technical-grade CMC as a thickening agent in detergent formulations.
● Soil-suspension polymer: deposits onto cotton and cellulosic fabrics, creating a negatively charged barrier to soils.
● Texture standardization and suspension of dirt and grime in cleaning products.
5.5 Paper, Textiles, Paints & Specialty Industrial
● Paper: wet-end dry-strength agent ; paper products and filtration materials.
● Textiles: warp sizing ; thickening in textile printing pastes ; non-woven fabric binder.
● Paints: thickener in water-based paints and resin emulsion paints.
● Adhesives, printing inks, ceramic and welding binders.
● Batteries: water-based electrode binder for lithium-ion battery graphite anodes.
● Ice packs (eutectic mixtures), leather burnishing, membranes and heat packs.
6. Packaging, Storage
Packaging (customizable):
● 25 kg multi-wall paper bags with PE liner, or fiber drums; 500 kg big bags; small packs on request;
Storage:
● Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area; keep containers tightly closed;
● Avoid moisture, prolonged high temperature and direct sunlight;
● Keep away from strong oxidizers.
● Factory-direct supply: own production and sourcing capability, transparent pricing, no middleman markup.
● Stable quality: strict internal control, every batch tested (viscosity, DS, purity, moisture), COA with every shipment.
● Fast response: quotations and technical support (COA, SDS, application advice); small trial orders accepted.
CMC is a water-soluble cellulose ether used as a thickener, stabilizer and film-former. In food it is the additive E466 — ice cream, mayonnaise, beverages, bakery, gluten-free and reduced-fat products, and wine stabilization. In cosmetics it thickens and stabilizes toothpaste, shampoos, skincare and sunscreens. Industrially it controls viscosity and fluid loss in oil-drilling muds, suspends soil in detergents, sizes and binds in paper and textiles, thickens water-based paints, and serves as a water-based binder in lithium-ion battery electrodes.
All share the same chemistry (CAS 9004-32-4) but differ in purity and performance profile. Technical CMC (about 60% CMC with sodium chloride and sodium glycolate salts) is the economical choice for detergents. Purified CMC — with salts removed — is required for food (E466), cosmetics and pharmaceutical use. A semi-purified grade serves paper applications. Drilling-grade CMC is a purified, ultra-high-viscosity type engineered for mud rheology and fluid-loss control. Choose the grade by application and required purity; every shipment carries a COA documenting viscosity, DS and purity.
