This document introduces the commercially available rheology modifiers that are presented in Part 2 of the handbook. It discusses that over 1000 products from 26 suppliers are included, covering 20 different chemical types of rheology modifiers. Each section will provide a brief description of a chemical type and its key features and applications. The product lines from each supplier are presented alphabetically within their relevant application areas. This introduction notes that the information provided is believed to be accurate as of mid-1999, but that users should contact suppliers for any new products.

1. Part 2
Commercially Available Rheology Modifiers
Contents
Page
Introduction 72
1. Acrylic Polymers 74
2. Cross-linked Acrylic Polymers 81
3. Alginates 89
4. Associative Thickeners 94
5. Carrageenan 99
6. Microcrystalline Cellulose 106
7. Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 109
8. Hydroxyethylcellulose 114
9. Hydroxypropylcellulose 119
10. Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 121
11. Methylcellulose 128
12. Guar & Guar Derivatives 132
13. Locust Bean Gum 138
14. Organoclays 141
15. Polyethylene 151
16. Polyethylene Oxide 157
17. Polyvinylpyrrolidone 161
18. Silica 167
19. Water-swellable Clay 174
20. Xanthan Gum 184
71

2. 72 Rheology Modifier Handbook
Introduction
This part of the handbook presents the commercially available product
lines of the 26 rheology modifier suppliers who have provided technical
information for this work. Over 1000 products are included herein. It is
also probable that there are other suppliers that the authors are not aware
of, especially in the “Pacific Rim” or South America. Handbook users in
those areas should consult local manufacturer directories to determine if
other suppliers exist in their area.
The term “commercially available” is intended to indicate that the
products listed are available to any customer in any quantity, from as
little as 50 lbs. to 50 tons or more. Many suppliers also produce other
grades of product that are classified as experimental or proprietary.
These are grades that are specially manufactured for specific large-
volume applications or customers. These grades are not included in this
handbook.
Twenty different chemical types of rheology modifiers are included in
this part of the handbook. They differ in chemical structure and
performance. Each Section begins with a brief description of the
chemical type and some key features and recommended applications for
the particular type of rheology modifier. This information is obtained
from the supplier’s technical literature and is not intended to be an
exhaustive treatise on the subject. In-depth technical information is
usually available in the supplier’s technical literature. Reference to this
technical literature is also included in the introduction to each Section.
It does not contain information on the supplier’s recommended handling
procedures for his products. This is because it may vary for different
suppliers and may, in fact, vary for different products from the same
supplier. The supplier’s technical literature is always the best source of
information on the recommended handling procedure to use.

3. Commercially Available Rheology Modifiers 73
In each section the product lines are presented alphabetically by
supplier’s name. Each product line is arranged according to the suppliers
recommended application area for the products, i.e., food,
pharmaceutical, personal care or household/institutional.
The product line data are believed to be complete and accurate as of
mid-1999. But suppliers are continually adding new and improved
products to their lines. The handbook user is urged to contact suppliers
(see Appendix C for contact information) to learn about new products
that might also be candidates for the intended application.
Note:
These tables also contain the following less common abbreviations:
cSt = centistoke n/a = not available or not
applicable
mPas = milliPascal•second = centipoise ppm = parts per million
INCI = International Nomenclature soln = solution
Cosmetic Ingredient
µm = micrometer or micron (10-6 meter)
nm = nanometer (10-9 meter)