| HS Code | 596430 |
| Product Name | Cold-water Soft Flake HRT |
| Product Type | Textile softening flake |
| Physical Form | Flake |
| Appearance | Soft flakes |
| Color | White to off-white |
| Odor | Slight characteristic odor |
| Cold Water Solubility | Soluble |
| Ph Value | 6.0-8.0 (1% aqueous solution) |
| Ionic Character | Nonionic |
| Active Content | ≥99% |
| Moisture Content | ≤1% |
| Application | Textile softening and finishing |
| Typical Dosage | 1-3 g/L |
| Packaging | 25 kg bag |
| Storage Conditions | Cool, dry, ventilated area |
| Shelf Life | 12 months in unopened packaging |
As an accredited Cold-water Soft Flake HRT factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Cold-water Soft Flake HRT is supplied in 25 kg moisture-resistant, sealed bags with clear batch and safety labeling. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Cold-water Soft Flake HRT is loaded in a 20′ FCL container using lined, sealed packaging for safe, secure transport. |
| Shipping | Cold-water Soft Flake HRT is shipped as a non-hazardous solid in moisture-proof woven bags or sacks, palletized for transport. Store in a cool, dry, ventilated area away from moisture, direct sunlight, and contamination. Use standard handling precautions; no special transport classification is normally required. |
| Storage | Store Cold-water Soft Flake HRT in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse, protected from moisture, direct sunlight, and heat sources. Keep original containers tightly closed, clearly labeled, and palletized off the floor. Avoid dust generation and contact with incompatible chemicals. Maintain segregation and good housekeeping; use first-in, first-out rotation. Do not store near food, feed, or drinking water. |
| Shelf Life | When kept sealed in a cool, dry location, Cold-water Soft Flake HRT has a shelf life of about two years. |
Because cold-water-dispersible hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) grades such as Cold-water Soft Flake HRT hydrate without pH adjustment, coating lines incorporate the grade through a pre-dispersed stock rather than dry powder addition. A 2.0 wt% aqueous stock is prepared in a side tank with a low-shear axial flow turbine at 400–600 rpm for 30–45 min until clear; high-shear rotor/stator agitation is avoided because polymer chain scission can depress stock viscosity by 10–20%. Stock viscosity is checked with a Brookfield RVT, spindle #4, 20 rpm, 25°C per ASTM D2364-15; a typical range is 4,200–6,800 mPa·s at 2.0 wt%, and values below 3,800 mPa·s generally indicate incomplete hydration or microbial degradation. In a 1,200 kg semi-gloss latex batch, 0.30–0.50 dry wt% on total formulation is metered into the let-down tank after TiO₂ grind; direct addition to the grind phase competes for water and can destabilize pigment dispersion. The incorporation sequence uses a Cowles disperser at 400–600 m/min tip speed for 20–30 min, followed by a Stormer viscosity target of 90–100 KU per ASTM D562-10. The main process conflict involves associative polyurethane thickeners: when HEUR is present above 0.2 wt%, the combined low-shear viscosity increase may be acceptable for sag resistance but detrimental to leveling and roller spatter control, measured by ASTM D4400-18. The operational pH window is 7.0–8.5; below 6.5 hydration slows, and above 9.0 viscosity loss can exceed 15% within 72 h due to alkaline oxidative chain scission. Preservation with MIT/BIT is compatible only when post-added after full hydration because preservative partitioning into unhydrated gel particles can produce under-preserved zones. Exterior masonry paints should not exceed 0.8 dry wt% because residual hydrophilicity reduces wet scrub resistance below the threshold defined by ISO 11998:2006 under prolonged water contact.
| Control parameter | Method | Typical operating range |
|---|---|---|
| Stock viscosity at 2 wt% | ASTM D2364-15 | 4,200–6,800 mPa·s |
| Finished paint Stormer viscosity | ASTM D562-10 | 90–100 KU |
| Sag resistance | ASTM D4400-18 | ≥ 14 mil |
| Wet scrub resistance | ISO 11998:2006 | > 5,000 cycles when HEC ≤ 0.5 wt% |
In polymer-modified cementitious tile adhesives conforming to EN 12004:2012 C2 criteria, Cold-water Soft Flake HRT is generally not dry-blended with CEM I 52.5 R at the dry-mix stage when gauging water temperature is below 10°C. Hydroxyethyl cellulose delayed hydration is suppressed by high cation concentration and high pH in the cement slurry, which can generate undispersed gel seeds in the wet mortar. A 1.0 wt% stock solution is added to the gauging water before contact with the dry mix, and the mortar is mixed in a forced-action mixer at 140–200 rpm for 120–180 s. The typical addition is 0.05–0.15 wt% on dry mortar; above 0.20 wt%, open time per EN 1346:2008 can extend by more than 15 min, but tensile adhesion after water immersion per EN 1348:2007 may decline by 8–12% due to increased water retention and subsequent interfacial film weakening. In lightweight tile adhesive formulations with expanded perlite, the low-shear viscosity increase must be compensated by reducing air-entraining admixture dosage; otherwise air content exceeds 20% and adhesion drops sharply. The grade is compatible with calcium formate accelerators up to 2.0 wt%; accelerator levels above this threshold produce rapid stiffening but lower open time and can mask incomplete polymer hydration if HEC stock is not fully dissolved. Mix water with calcium ion concentration above 500 mg/L reduces hydration rate and requires mixing time to be extended by 30–60 s.
In low-solids KCl/polymer drilling fluids for water-sensitive shale intervals, Cold-water Soft Flake HRT is used as a secondary viscosity and fluid-loss control agent at additions of 0.28–0.57 kg/m³. It is pre-sheared in freshwater for 30–45 min through a centrifugal pump before mixing with 3% KCl brine; direct addition to KCl brine above 7% salinity produces partial hydration and elevated API filter loss. Rheology is measured with a Fann 35 viscometer at 600 r/min and 300 r/min; a typical 600/300 reading ratio for a 0.45 kg/m³ loading is 2.0–2.3, indicating acceptable shear-thinning. API fluid loss per API RP 13B-1 is maintained below 10 cm³/30 min at 100°C in low-solids systems, but the grade alone is insufficient above 120°C and must be paired with a synthetic sulfonated polymer. In field mixing plants, the main bottleneck is lump formation in saltwater premix tanks; a venturi eductor with 5–10 m/s throat velocity is required for uniform dispersion. The agent is inert to calcium carbonate weighting material but exhibits viscosity reduction above 8.0 kg/m³ cement contamination due to alkaline hydrolysis; therefore it is isolated from cementing operations. Batch-to-batch variance in flake moisture below 5% does not materially change fluid performance, but moisture above 7% can reduce active polymer content and must be corrected by dosing adjustment.
In solvent-free emulsion adhesives for paper bonding and packaging, the grade is incorporated at 0.6–1.2 dry wt% on adhesive solids to raise Brookfield HBT viscosity to 20,000–40,000 mPa·s at 25°C, spindle #6, 20 rpm. The substitution removes solvent emissions but alters early water release: open time is extended, and wet tack development at 30 s can be 25% lower than a solventborne acrylic benchmark when measured as loop tack per ASTM D6195-03. Use with vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) emulsions at pH 4.5–5.5 requires pre-neutralization of the HEC stock solution to pH 7.0 because acidic pH slows hydration. In pressure-sensitive laminating formulations, the grade is limited to 0.8 wt% maximum; above this level peel adhesion on low-energy polyethylene drops below 2.0 N/25 mm because the thickener migrates to the surface and forms a water-sensitive boundary layer. Food-contact packaging adhesives may use HEC as a component under 21 CFR 175.105 and 21 CFR 176.170 if the total coating or adhesive is formulated consistent with good manufacturing practice; the nonionic polymer does not introduce heavy-metal residues, but residual glyoxal must be confirmed below the supplier’s specification for direct food-contact grades. The grade is not suitable for moisture-cure polyurethane adhesives because the water introduced by the stock solution reacts with isocyanate and can cause premature CO₂ foaming and hardness loss.
Under high-ionic-strength ceramic glaze milling conditions, Cold-water Soft Flake HRT is introduced at 0.05–0.12 wt% on dry glaze solids to control settling of frit particles in a 1.65 g/cm³ suspension. The glaze is milled in porcelain-lined ball mills with alumina grinding media for 8–10 h; HEC is added in the final 30 min to avoid excessive chain scission under prolonged shear. Suspension viscosity is checked with a Ford cup #4 at 45–60 s at 25°C or with a Brookfield LVT spindle #3 at 12 rpm, targeting 1,200–2,000 mPa·s. The main process limit is high concentration of sodium tripolyphosphate above 0.4 wt%; dispersant competes for available water and can reduce thickening efficiency by 20–30%. If the slurry temperature exceeds 45°C during spray drying, viscosity loss is irreversible because of polymer oxidation; cooling jackets are therefore used on holding tanks. The suspension remains pseudoplastic and transfers through diaphragm pumps without air entrapment, but screen clogging at 80 µm can occur if the polymer is not fully dissolved before final screening.
In cold-processed o/w emulsions based on caprylic/capric triglyceride and glycerin, Cold-water Soft Flake HRT is used at 0.15–0.35 wt% in the water phase. The water phase is pre-mixed at 25°C with a propeller stirrer at 300 rpm for 60 min until clear; glycerin above 30 wt% reduces hydration rate by osmotic suppression, so glycerin is post-added after full hydration. Viscosity is measured with a Brookfield LVT spindle #3 at 6 rpm, typically 3,000–8,000 mPa·s. The grade is compatible with nonionic emulsifiers of HLB 8–14, but incompatibility arises with high levels of cationic quaternary compounds above 0.5 wt% due to weak ionic interaction that can reduce viscosity by up to 40%. Preservation with phenoxyethanol at 1.0% is acceptable; however, methylisothiazolinone can partition into unhydrated HEC particles if added before complete hydration, leading to under-preserved water pockets. Microbial challenge testing per ISO 11930:2019 should be conducted after 7 days of equilibration. The formulation is not suitable for anhydrous systems or solvent-heavy hair styling gels where ethanol exceeds 40 wt% because HEC precipitates as fibrous particulates and loses thickening function.
In suspension polymerisation of vinyl chloride monomer, Cold-water Soft Flake HRT functions as a primary protective colloid at 0.05–0.10 wt% on VCM. It is dissolved in demineralised water at 2.0 wt% before charging into a 30 m³ stainless steel autoclave equipped with a retreat-curve impeller at 180–220 rpm. The colloid influences PVC resin particle size distribution; reported production data indicate that higher molecular weight HEC shifts Sauter mean diameter to 120–140 µm and reduces the fine fraction below 63 µm, although published data for this specific configuration is limited. Polymerisation at 55–60°C with di-2-ethylhexyl peroxydicarbonate initiator proceeds to approximately 80% conversion before pressure drop; excessive HEC above 0.15 wt% can generate stable foam during monomer recovery, requiring silicone antifoam addition. Residual HEC on PVC resin is monitored by extractable residue or nitrogen content, and insoluble matter in the stock solution must be below the limit that would blind a 100 µm screen. Analytical control includes K-value determination per ISO 1628-2 and volatile content per ASTM D3030-11.
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Cold-water Soft Flake HRT is a pregelatinized starch flake formulated for cold-water letdown in aqueous adhesive systems where a steam-jacketed starch cooker is not available or where batch cycle time must be reduced. The material is an off-white flake with a moisture content of 10.0–12.0 wt% and a Brookfield RVT viscosity of 1,200–2,400 mPa·s at 20% non-volatile content and 25 °C measured according to ASTM D2196-20. Flake retention on a 12-mesh sieve is ≥85% by mass under ASTM E11-22, and bulk density is 0.48–0.60 g/cm³ under ASTM D1895-17. The HRT designation identifies the high-rapid-tack grade within the cold-water soft flake product line; it is not a native starch and does not require a cook cycle. Its hydration is driven by mechanical shear, so mixer tip speed, feed addition rate, and water temperature determine whether the dispersion reaches a defect-free state.
The early hydration profile is strongly nonlinear. In a 500 L dissolver with a saw-tooth impeller tip speed of 8 m/s, water at 20–25 °C produces a smooth dispersion in 20–30 min. At 10–15 °C, the wet-out time extends to 40–60 min, and the frequency of translucent gel particles retained on a 250 µm in-line screen rises when the flake addition rate exceeds 3.5 kg/min per 1,000 L of water. Viscosity development is delayed rather than instantaneous: a 20% non-volatile dispersion reaches 30–40% of its 24 h Brookfield RVT value after 10 min, with the steepest increase occurring between 30 min and 3 h. The dispersion is shear-thinning, with a power-law index of 0.75–0.85 over the shear-rate range 1–100 s⁻¹, so the process viscosity at 50 s⁻¹ is lower than the low-shear Brookfield reading would suggest. Storage tanks should therefore be fitted with slow agitation at 10–20 rpm to prevent settling and surface skinning without unnecessary air entrainment.
When scaling from a 500 L pilot dissolver to a 2,000 L production make-down tank, geometric similarity is not sufficient. At 2,000 L, a tip speed of 6 m/s yields the same 250 µm screen defect result as 8 m/s in the 500 L vessel if the flake addition rate is lowered from 3.5 kg/min to 2.8 kg/min per 1,000 L. Vertical feed into the vortex is more effective than dumping through a manway, because the latter creates transient local concentration overshoots that lead to gel particles. A gravimetric feeder with ±0.1 kg/min accuracy and a water meter with ±0.5% flow accuracy is recommended. Production-scale records from corrugating adhesive skids show batch-to-batch viscosity variation of ±8% with gravimetric feeding and temperature-corrected water volume, compared with ±15% when operators use manual volumetric addition.
The flake morphology creates measurable differences in dusting, wet-out kinetics, and equipment compatibility. Spray-dried pregelatinized powders hydrate almost immediately and generate higher dust; they frequently form fisheye gels when added too aggressively. Granular native starch must be heated to 85–95 °C for gelatinization, which consumes steam and requires a jacketed cook tank. Soft Flake HRT occupies an intermediate position: the flake form lowers respirable dust compared with powder and slows the initial water contact enough to prevent rapid local gelation. This allows higher non-volatile content at the same mixer speed without excessive lump formation.
| Operating parameter | Cold-water Soft Flake HRT | Granular native starch | Spray-dried cold-water powder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gelatinization requirement | None; cold-water dispersion at 20–30 °C | Thermal cook at 85–95 °C | None; cold-water dispersion |
| Bulk density | 0.48–0.60 g/cm³ | 0.55–0.65 g/cm³ | 0.35–0.50 g/cm³ |
| Dust tendency | Low flake | Moderate granular | High powder |
| Typical make-down time | 20–40 min | 60–120 min including cook and cool | 5–15 min with high risk of fisheye |
| Recommended mixer | Saw-tooth dissolver at 5–10 m/s tip speed | Steam injection or scrape-surface cooker | High-shear eductor or rotor-stator |
Published data for the flake grade in high-shear rotor-stator equipment is limited, so the use of such mixers should be qualified by a plant trial against the 250 µm screen test. Compared with a 88% hydrolysis polyvinyl alcohol at 10% solids, the flake starch gives lower water resistance and lower film toughness, but it remains compatible as a co-binder at up to 5% of total binder solids in neutral paper lamination formulas.
The supplier’s certificate of analysis includes the following release parameters. The product is packed in 25 kg multi-wall paper sacks with a 50 µm polyethylene liner and should be identified by lot number for moisture and viscosity traceability.
| Property | Test method | Release limit | Typical value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moisture content | ISO 1666:2014 | 10.0–12.0 wt% | 11.2 wt% |
| Brookfield RVT viscosity, 20% non-volatile, 25 °C, 20 rpm | ASTM D2196-20 | 1,200–2,400 mPa·s | 1,850 mPa·s |
| pH, 10% dispersion | ISO 787-9:2019 | 5.0–7.0 | 6.2 |
| Residue on 12-mesh sieve | ASTM E11-22 | ≥85% retained | 91% |
| Bulk density | ASTM D1895-17 | 0.48–0.60 g/cm³ | 0.54 g/cm³ |
| Residue on 250 µm screen after 30 min dispersion | ASTM D2196-20 with in-line screen | ≤0.5% wet gel | 0.2% |
The moisture limit is operationally significant: values above 12.0 wt% reduce the dry-basis adhesive solids and can shift viscosity by more than 10% at the same gravimetric addition. Warehousing above 60% relative humidity without intact liners leads to moisture pickup at the flake surface, which increases the risk of clumping in the feed hopper. The viscosity test is sensitive to spindle and beaker geometry; plants using an RVT spindle no. 4 at 20 rpm must record the spindle number and speed on the batch sheet. Use of a no. 3 spindle can under-read by 15–20% because of wall slip in a 600 mL low-form Griffin beaker.
On a corrugated combining line running at 180–250 m/min, the HRT flake is typically processed at 18–22% dry-basis adhesive solids with a coating weight of 300 g/m². Green bond strength measured under TAPPI T 821 om-21 remains above 12 N/m after 10 s compression. At line speeds beyond 250 m/min, the delayed viscosity build can become a limitation because the adhesive film may not develop sufficient tack before the green bond period ends. In these operations, plants often blend 10–20% of a spray-dried cold-water powder into the formulation to accelerate initial viscosity. The blend must be managed carefully to avoid dust and fisheye formation in the dryer hood area. Operators running a 2,000 L make-down skid with a progressive cavity transfer pump report that a blend ratio above 20% powder reduces pumpability after 4 h because the powder fraction creates a higher yield stress than the flake-only dispersion.
Borax decahydrate at 0.2–0.5 wt% of starch dry basis increases tack and slightly shortens the open time. At 1.0 wt% and above, the 24 h Brookfield viscosity can increase by more than 200%, and the dispersion may contain rubbery gel particles that cannot be re-dissolved by pumping shear. The mechanism is starch-borate diglycol crosslinking of the amylopectin fraction, which is concentration-dependent and not neutralized by simple pH adjustment to 6.0. Formulations requiring high borax levels for water resistance should be qualified in a pilot dissolver; published data for this specific configuration at the upper borax boundary is limited. Anionic polyacrylamide co-binders are generally less aggressive, but their use above 0.3 wt% can generate secondary viscosity drift through electrostatic bridging, particularly when the letdown water hardness exceeds 150 mg/L as CaCO₃.
The product should be stored in unopened packaging below 30 °C and 60% relative humidity. Freeze–thaw cycling is not relevant to the dry flake, but bulk bags exposed to roof condensation can develop surface hydration and should not be fed into a volumetric screw. The flake is compatible with neutral and slightly acid adhesive formulas in the pH range 4.5–7.0; extended exposure to caustic soda above 0.5% of formulation weight degrades the starch backbone and lowers final viscosity. For paper and corrugated board intended for food contact, the converter should confirm that the formulation meets 21 CFR 178.3520 and any applicable national migration limits. The product is not marketed as a direct food ingredient. Material that exceeds the 12.0 wt% moisture release limit should not be re-dried in a hot-air oven above 60 °C, because localized thermal damage can create insoluble granule fragments that pass through the adhesive and appear as surface defects on the linerboard.
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