H Series Polymers: A Unique Combination of Properties

General properties common to all of the H Series cellulosic polymers are listed below. Individual H Series products exhibit these properties to varying degrees and may have additional properties that are desirable for specific applications.

Water solubility – Cellulosic polymers from BPI dissolve in water with no sharp solubility limit.  Although untreated H Series powders are soluble in cold water, they must first be thoroughly dispersed in the water to prevent lumping.  The maximum concentration is limited only by solution viscosity.

No ionic charge – H Series polymers are nonionic in nature. This makes them less likely to form insoluble precipitates. This neutral pH property protects sensitive systems where anions or cations would be detrimental.

Surface activity – H Series products act as surfactants in aqueous solutions to provide emulsification, protective colloid action, and phase stabilization. The surface tension of a solution of an H Series polymer can be 40% less than that of water which means that wet out of a particular substrate or aggregate can be much faster.

Enzyme resistance – Highly enzyme-resistant H Series products do not dissipate quickly in the soil as do plant-based materials such as guar, starch and plantago. This is because the substituted groups on the cellulose polymer create steric interference which blocks the enzymes that would normally break down cellulose in the soil.

pH stability – H Series cellulosic polymers are stable over a pH range of 3 to 11.

Water retention – H Series polymers are highly efficient water-retention agents. This is valuable in hydromulch, cement and gypsum slurries, watering aides, soil grouts, and many other soil stabilizing applications.

Thickening – H Series polymers thicken aqueous systems while maintaining the bio-availability of the water. The viscosity is related to the molecular weight, and concentration of the specific H Series product.

Film formation – H Series products form tough, flexible films that evenly coat substrates to which a solution is applied. Upon drying, these films exhibit excellent resistance to sunlight, soil microbes and do not easily re-dissolve. They are unaffected by latexes, oils and resins that may be applied to their surface to improve their water resistance.

Binding – H Series polymers are used as high-performance binders for both minerals and fibers. In aggregate systems, they create high-tensile bonds between aggregate particles that, if broken by heavy traffic, can be reformed with a light application of water. A very small amount of polymer re-applied in this manner will add to the initial application while embedding additional dust particles into the polymer/aggregate matrix. To reduce brittleness in highly plastic soils, the addition of low cost organic compounds that plasticize H Series polymers can be helpful.