Products
Methyl cellulose is found in pharmaceuticals as an excipient, for example in tablets.
Structure and properties
Methyl cellulose is a partially -methylated cellulose. It is a methyl ether. It exists as a white, yellowish-white to grayish-white powder that is hygroscopic when dried or as granules and is practically insoluble in hot water. Methyl cellulose dissolves in cold water to form a colloidal solution.
Effects
Methyl cellulose has gel-forming, stabilizing, viscosity-increasing, and decomposition-promoting properties.
Fields of application
As an excipient, methyl cellulose is used as a binder, disintegrant, film former, gel former, emulsifier and for stabilizing suspensions, among other applications.