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Comparison of Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Poly Anionic Cellulose

Release time:

2026-04-28

Source:

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and poly anionic cellulose (PAC) exhibit significant differences in chemical structure, performance, and applications. PAC can be considered a high-performance modified version of CMC, featuring higher substitution degree, stronger salt and heat resistance, and is widely used in high-end industrial fields.

1.Differences in Chemical Structure and Production
Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC): Produced from natural cellulose through carboxymethylation reaction, typically with a low substitution degree (generally <0.9). It is manufactured using the water-based method, which is low-cost but results in relatively lower product purity and stability.
Poly Anionic Cellulose (PAC): Based on CMC, it undergoes deep modification via the solvent method (using alcohol as the medium), achieving a higher substitution degree (usually >0.9) and a more uniform molecular structure. It is a new type of cellulose ether with high purity and stability.

2.Performance Comparison

Performance Index	Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC)	Polyanionic Cellulose (PAC)
Degree of Substitution	Generally below 0.9	Usually above 0.9, with more uniform distribution
Dissolution Rate	Relatively slow, prone to lumping	Faster, with high transparency after dissolution
Salt Resistance	Moderate, tends to fail in high-salt environments	Excellent, suitable for seawater and saturated saltwater environments
Thermal Stability	Moderate, viscosity decreases significantly at high temperatures	High thermal stability, can function effectively above 150℃
Filtration Loss Control	Moderate	Stronger, significantly reduces filtrate loss of drilling fluid
Usage Efficiency	Requires higher dosage	Dosage is only 30%-50% of that of CMC, more efficient

3. Differences in Application Fields
CMC:

Widely used in conventional industrial fields such as food (thickener), pharmaceuticals (disintegrant), daily chemicals (additive in detergents), textiles (sizing agent), and papermaking (reinforcing agent).
PAC:
Primarily used in petroleum drilling as a filtration loss reducer and viscosity enhancer, suitable for freshwater, seawater, and saturated brine drilling fluids.
Can completely replace CMC in industries such as textiles, papermaking, daily chemicals, and rubber, especially performing better in high-end markets.
Due to its high compatibility and antibacterial properties, it is suitable for fine chemical processes requiring higher stability.

4.Our Advantages
As a source factory for both PAC and CMC, we keep pace with the latest industry process updates. From material selection to personalized index production, we are committed to providing customers with high-quality, cost-effective products and attentive service, ensuring timely after-sales response for your peace of mind. Welcome to inquire: 18931989826 / 17732828602 / 15931145826.