Ethyl cellulose

Chemical properties

Ethyl cellulose has thermoplastic properties [1].

δ=10.3 [2].

Film


  • Tough and retains flexibility at extreme ranges of temperatures [3]
  • Low inflammability [3]
  • Heat resistance [3]
  • Flexibility at low temperatures [3].

Stability


The polymer is subject to oxidative degradation under light. It is stable to a wide variety of chemicals, including concentrated alkali, but sensitive to acids [1].


Behavior in solution


In chloroform and methanol, water insoluble ethyl cellulose form thin liquids. The solubility of ethyl cellulose in the solvents is insufficient to form viscous solutions. Combining chloroform and methanol in 90-25% chloroform to 10-75% methanol will form a viscous ethyl cellulose solution [9]. A similar increase in viscosity is seen using 90-10% phenol and 10-90% methyl acetate [10].


SolventInsolublePartially solubleSoluble
Amyl benzoatex [7]
Butyl benzoatex [7]
Chloroformx [9]
Ethanolx [6]
Ethyl butyratex [11]
Isobutyl benzoatex [7]
Methanolx [9]
Phenolx [6]
Phenyl phthalatex [6]
WaterDS 2.3-2.8 [3]DS 0.4-2.0 [3]