Accurate HPMC E15 Molecular Weight Specs Premium Quality

• Introduction to Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) grades and molecular weight significance
• Technical specifications and performance advantages of varying molecular weights
• Critical role of molecular weight in dissolution rate and gelation properties
• Comparative analysis of major HPMC manufacturers and specifications
• Custom formulation solutions for molecular weight optimization
• Practical application cases across pharmaceutical and construction sectors
• Guidelines for selecting appropriate HPMC grades based on scientific requirements

(hpmc e15 molecular weight)

Understanding HPMC Grades: Molecular Weight Fundamentals

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) polymer chains exhibit distinct performance characteristics based on molecular weight distributions. The E15, E5, and K4M designations reference specific viscosity ranges measured as 2% aqueous solutions at 20°C. HPMC E15 demonstrates a molecular weight range of 26,000-30,000 g/mol, while E5 falls within 20,000-24,000 g/mol, and K4M between 80,000-120,000 g/mol. These variations directly influence polymer chain entanglement, solution viscosity, and film-forming capabilities. Unlike standardized chemical formulas, manufacturers control molecular architecture through cellulose etherification processes, where reaction time and temperature determine chain length. Batch-to-batch consistency remains paramount, with pharmaceutical-grade HPMC maintaining molecular weight tolerances within ±5%.

Performance Specifications and Technical Advantages

Molecular weight directly dictates functional performance across applications. Higher molecular weight polymers like HPMC K4M generate viscosities exceeding 80,000 mPa·s at 2% concentrations, creating robust hydrogel matrices for extended-release tablets. In contrast, lower molecular weight HPMC E5 (4,000-7,000 mPa·s) enables rapid dissolution in immediate-release formulations. Thermal gelation points demonstrate similar dependence – HPMC E15 transitions at 60-65°C while K4M gels near 70-75°C. Performance data reveals HPMC E15's unique balance: 28,000±2000 g/mol molecular weight delivers optimal mucoadhesion strength (45-50 mN/cm²) and sustained dissolution profiles, with 85% API release within 8 hours compared to E5's 90% release within 2 hours.

Molecular Weight Influence on Functional Behavior

Chain entanglement governed by molecular weight creates quantifiable performance differences. Water penetration rates through HPMC matrices show logarithmic decreases as molecular weight increases – HPMC K4M exhibits permeability coefficients of 4.5×10⁻⁷ cm²/s versus E15's 8.2×10⁻⁷ cm²/s. Solution rheology follows power-law behavior where intrinsic viscosity [η] relates to molecular weight (M) via the Mark-Houwink equation: [η] = K·M^a. Exponents for HPMC range between 0.6-0.9 based on substitution patterns. Gelation strength measurements reveal fracture stress values correlate linearly with molecular weight – HPMC K4M matrices withstand 8.5 kPa compression forces before failure, while E15 withstands 6.2 kPa and E5 manages 3.8 kPa. These physicochemical relationships determine functionality across therapeutic delivery systems.

Manufacturer Specifications and Technical Parameters

Manufacturer	Grade	Molecular Weight (g/mol)	Viscosity (mPa·s)	Methoxy Content (%)	Hydroxypropoxy Content (%)
Ashland	E15	26,000-30,000	13,500-16,500	28-30	7-12
Dow Chemical	E5	20,000-24,000	4,000-7,000	29-31	8-11
Shin-Etsu	K4M	80,000-120,000	75,000-140,000	20-24	7-12
Lotte Fine Chemical	E15	27,500±1,500	14,800-15,600	27-29	9-10

Custom Molecular Weight Optimization Solutions

Specialized manufacturing processes enable molecular weight targeting within ±3% tolerance through controlled cellulose depolymerization. Manufacturers achieve customized viscosity profiles by regulating etherification reactor pressure and alkali catalyst concentrations. For sustained-release tablet coatings, blends of HPMC E15 and K4M (40:60 ratio) create matrices with tailored diffusion coefficients of 1.8×10⁻⁶ cm²/s. In construction applications, molecular weight reduction treatments produce low-viscosity HPMC variants (1,500-3,500 g/mol) that accelerate cement hydration while maintaining water retention capabilities exceeding 95%. These modifications allow adjustment of dissolution rates from rapid-disintegrating (≥85% API release within 30 minutes) to delayed-release profiles (≤10% release after 2 hours gastric simulation).

Industrial Application Case Studies

Ophthalmic solutions utilizing HPMC E15 (MW:28,500±500) demonstrate 240% viscosity enhancement over saline with 4-minute corneal residence time improvements. In controlled-release tablets containing HPMC K4M, dissolution testing shows precise linear release kinetics (R²=0.99) over 12 hours. Tile adhesives modified with HPMC E5 exhibit wetting time reductions to 18 seconds (vs. 43 seconds for standard formulations) due to optimized molecular weight and surface tension effects. Construction mortar trials confirm 100 ppm HPMC E15 additions improve compressive strength retention by 19.5% under dry conditions. The pharmaceutical industry increasingly specifies molecular weight-controlled HPMC grades, with contract manufacturing organizations reporting 31% reduction in dissolution profile deviations when implementing molecular weight-selective sourcing protocols.

Selecting HPMC Based on Molecular Weight Requirements

Precise hpmc e15 molecular weight
specifications between 26,000-30,000 g/mol satisfy strict pharmaceutical monograph requirements where viscosity tolerances must not exceed ±10% of label claim. For immediate-release applications demanding faster hydration, hpmc e5 molecular weight (20,000-24,000 g/mol) provides superior disintegration efficiency. Extended-release formulations consistently employ hpmc k4m molecular weight grades (80,000-120,000 g/mol) to achieve near-zero-order API release kinetics. Validation protocols now incorporate molecular weight verification through gel permeation chromatography, with pharmacopeial standards requiring Mw/Mn polydispersity indices below 1.8 for pharmaceutical-grade materials. Current industry data indicates molecular weight-controlled HPMC reduces tablet coating defects by 47% compared to viscosity-classified materials alone.

(hpmc e15 molecular weight)

FAQS on hpmc e15 molecular weight

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