Product Overview CMC

Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC), also known as cellulose gum, is a water-soluble anionic polymer derived from natural cellulose. It functions as a thickener, binder, stabilizer, and water-retention agent across a wide range of industries.

ZHAOYUAN supplies CMC in multiple grades — from food-grade to specialized industrial grades — with viscosity ranging from 100 to 8,000 cps to meet diverse application requirements. Custom grades and packaging are available on request.

Available Grades & Specifications

Parameter Specification Method
Grade Food Grade (E466)
Viscosity Range (Brookfield, 1%) 100 – 8,000 cps Brookfield
Degree of Substitution (DS) 0.80 – 0.95 Titration
Purity (dry basis) min 99.5% Calculation
Moisture Content max 10% GB/T
pH (1% solution) 6.5 – 8.5 pH meter

Multiple viscosity grades available within the range. Contact us with your target viscosity and application for a specific grade recommendation.

Paper Grade CMC
Typical viscosity: 5 – 1,000 cps
Used as a surface sizing and coating agent in paper manufacturing. Improves surface strength, smoothness, and printability. Also applied as a retention aid and wet-end additive. Multiple viscosity grades available to suit different paper types and machine speeds.

Specific grade parameters available on request. Contact us with your paper type, machine speed, and application method.

Ceramic Grade CMC
Typical viscosity: 5 – 2,000 cps
Functions as a binder and plasticizer in ceramic body forming. Improves green strength, workability, and dimensional consistency. Used in wall tiles, floor tiles, sanitaryware, and technical ceramics. Burns out cleanly during firing without leaving residue.

Specific grade parameters available on request. Contact us with your ceramic body composition and forming method.

Detergent Grade CMC
Typical viscosity: 10 – 800 cps
Used as an anti-redeposition agent in laundry detergents and household cleaning products. Prevents soil from redepositing onto fabric during washing. Compatible with both powder and liquid detergent formulations. Cost-effective grade with reliable performance.

Specific grade parameters available on request. Contact us with your formulation type and active content requirements.

Textile / Dyeing Grade CMC
Typical viscosity: 500 – 5,000 cps
Applied as a warp sizing agent to protect yarn during weaving, and as a thickener in reactive dye printing pastes. Provides excellent film-forming properties and easy washout. Suitable for cotton, linen, and blended fabrics.

Specific grade parameters available on request. Contact us with your fiber type and sizing or printing process details.

Mosquito Coil Grade CMC
Typical viscosity: 200 – 1,000 cps
Used as a binder in mosquito coil and incense stick manufacturing. Provides good cohesive strength, uniform burning rate, and low ash residue. Compatible with wood powder, pyrethrin, and other active ingredients used in coil formulations.

Specific grade parameters available on request. Contact us with your coil formula and production process details.

Construction Grade
Typical viscosity: 300 – 3,000 cps
Water retention agent and workability improver for tile adhesives, dry-mix mortars, and gypsum-based products.
Oilfield Grade
Typical viscosity: 500 – 4,000 cps
Fluid loss control and viscosity modifier for water-based drilling muds. Lower cost alternative to PAC for less demanding applications.
Other Applications
Viscosity: 100 – 8,000 cps
Battery electrode binders, pharmaceutical excipients, personal care, and other specialty applications. Custom DS and viscosity available.

Specific grade parameters available on request.

Industry Applications

Food & Beverage
Thickener and stabilizer in sauces, dairy products, baked goods, and ice cream. Listed as E466 in EU food regulations.
Paper & Board
Surface sizing, coating binder, and wet-end retention aid for paper and paperboard manufacturing.
Ceramics & Tiles
Binder and plasticizer for ceramic body forming. Improves green strength and burns out cleanly during kiln firing.
Detergents
Anti-redeposition agent in laundry powder and liquid detergents, preventing soil from settling back onto fabric.
Textiles & Dyeing
Warp sizing agent and dye printing paste thickener for cotton, linen, and blended fabrics.
Construction & More
Water retention in tile adhesives and dry-mix mortars. Also used in mosquito coils, pharmaceuticals, and personal care.

Packaging & Storage

Standard Packaging 25 kg kraft paper bags with inner polyethylene liner
Bulk Packaging 500 kg / 1,000 kg jumbo bags available on request
Storage Conditions Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Keep away from moisture and direct sunlight.
Shelf Life 2 years from date of manufacture under recommended storage conditions
HS Code 3912.31 (Carboxymethylcellulose and its salts)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CMC (Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose) used for?

CMC is a water-soluble polymer derived from cellulose, used as a thickener, binder, stabilizer, and water-retention agent. Depending on grade, it's applied in food and beverage products, paper coating, ceramics, detergents, textiles, construction materials, and oilfield drilling fluids.

What viscosity range does ZHAOYUAN's CMC cover?

Viscosity ranges from 100 to 8,000 cps (Brookfield, 1% solution) across the full grade lineup, with each application grade — food, paper, ceramic, detergent, textile, mosquito coil, construction, and oilfield — sitting within a narrower typical range suited to that use.

Is ZHAOYUAN's CMC food-grade safe?

Yes — the food-grade CMC is produced to E466 specification, with purity of at least 99.5% (dry basis), maximum 10% moisture content, and pH 6.5–8.5 in a 1% solution, meeting standard food-additive requirements.

What's the difference between CMC and PAC for oilfield use?

Oilfield-grade CMC (typical viscosity 500–4,000 cps) provides fluid loss control and viscosity modification for water-based drilling muds at a lower cost than PAC, making it a suitable alternative for less demanding drilling applications where PAC's higher performance isn't required.

How is CMC packaged and how long does it last in storage?

Standard packaging is 25 kg kraft paper bags with an inner polyethylene liner, with 500 kg or 1,000 kg jumbo bags available for bulk orders. Shelf life is 2 years from the manufacture date when stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from moisture and direct sunlight.

Can ZHAOYUAN supply a custom CMC grade for my application?

Yes. Beyond the standard grade lineup, custom degree of substitution (DS) and viscosity are available for specialty applications such as battery electrode binders, pharmaceutical excipients, and personal care formulations. Contact us with your target viscosity, DS, and application details.

What factors affect the price of CMC?

CMC pricing depends on grade (food vs. industrial), viscosity range, degree of substitution, purity level, order quantity, and packaging (standard bags vs. bulk jumbo bags), as well as destination and shipping terms. Contact us with your specific grade and quantity for a quote.

Is an MSDS or COA provided with CMC orders?

Yes — a certificate of analysis (COA) and material safety data sheet (MSDS) are available on request with every shipment, confirming the grade's viscosity, DS, purity, and other specifications against the order requirements.

Is ZHAOYUAN a CMC manufacturer or a trading company?

ZHAOYUAN supplies CMC directly from China with export capability for bulk orders worldwide, and also delivers turnkey EPC engineering for cellulose ether production plants — giving customers both a chemical supply source and a manufacturing-side engineering partner.