Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na for short) is an important chemical raw material and food additive, which is widely used in many fields, including food, medicine, cosmetics, daily chemical products, papermaking and textile industries. Its main functions are as a thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier, gelling agent, etc.

1. Food industry
In the food industry, CMC-Na plays a particularly prominent role as a thickener, stabilizer and emulsifier. It can improve the texture and taste of food, extend the shelf life, improve the appearance, and make the performance of the product more stable. For example, in foods such as juice, jelly, ice cream, and dairy products, CMC-Na is often used as a thickener and stabilizer, which can increase viscosity, prevent moisture stratification, and prevent protein or fat separation, thereby ensuring the quality and stability of food.

CMC-Na can also play a role in keeping moisture and delaying deterioration in baked foods such as bread and cakes, enhancing the taste and shelf life, and improving its organizational structure. Especially in low-fat and low-sugar foods, CMC-Na helps simulate the taste of fat and improve the overall quality of food.

2. Pharmaceutical industry
In the pharmaceutical field, CMC-Na is widely used as an excipient for drugs. It can be used to prepare tablets, capsules, granules, suspensions and oral liquids. The role of CMC-Na is mainly reflected in two aspects: one is as a binder to improve the mechanical strength of the drug and ensure the stability of the drug during the preparation process; the other is as a controlled release agent to adjust the release rate of the drug and ensure the continuous effect of the drug.

In some topical drugs, CMC-Na can also be used as an emulsifier and stabilizer to improve the texture of ointments or gels and enhance the skin permeability and therapeutic effect of drugs. In addition, CMC-Na can also play a role in wound dressings, helping to maintain a moist environment and promote wound healing.

3. Cosmetics and daily chemical products
In cosmetics and daily chemical products, CMC-Na is mainly used as a thickener and stabilizer. It can increase the viscosity of products such as lotions, creams, shampoos, and conditioners, and improve the use experience of products. At the same time, CMC-Na can prevent oil-water separation, maintain the stability and uniformity of products, and extend the shelf life of products.

In some skin care products, CMC-Na can also form a protective film to maintain the moisture of the skin and improve the smoothness and softness of the skin. In addition, CMC-Na is also commonly used in detergents to improve the cleaning effect and foam quality of products.

4. Papermaking industry
In the papermaking industry, CMC-Na plays an important role as an additive for paper. It is mainly used to improve the strength, smoothness, wettability and printing performance of paper. CMC-Na can effectively improve the wet and dry strength of paper, and enhance the tear resistance and compression resistance of paper. In addition, it can also be used as a coating agent to improve the flatness and glossiness of the paper surface, improve the printing effect, and ensure product quality.

In some special-purpose papers, CMC-Na can improve its water resistance and oil resistance, and is used in food packaging paper, waterproof paper and other fields. By adjusting the dosage and molecular weight of CMC-Na, the properties of paper can be adjusted to meet different needs.

5. Textile industry
In the textile industry, CMC-Na is mainly used for printing and dyeing and fabric finishing. It can be used as an adhesive for printing to improve the clarity and fastness of printing, making the color more vivid and the pattern more delicate. CMC-Na can also be used as a softener and antistatic agent for fabrics to improve the feel and comfort of fabrics.

CMC-Na is also used as a thickener in textile slurry to control the fluidity and adhesion of the slurry, ensure the processing performance of textiles, and improve production efficiency. It can also be used as an anti-shrinkage agent to improve the dimensional stability of fabrics and reduce shrinkage caused by washing or exposure to humid environments.

6. Petroleum industry
In the petroleum industry, CMC-Na is mainly used in drilling fluids, completion fluids, and oil production fluids as a thickener and stabilizer. CMC-Na can increase the viscosity of the liquid, improve the rock-carrying capacity of the drilling fluid, prevent solid particles from settling, and maintain the fluidity of the liquid. At the same time, CMC-Na can also reduce the rheology of the liquid during drilling, reduce friction, and improve the working efficiency of the drill bit.

CMC-Na can also be used as a stabilizer to prevent the oil well fluid from decomposing or precipitating under high temperature and high pressure environment, and maintain the stability and applicability of the liquid.

7. Other application areas
In addition to the above fields, CMC-Na has also been widely used in some other fields. For example, in agriculture, it can be used as a soil conditioner to improve the structure of the soil and improve the water retention of the soil; in the water treatment industry, it can be used as a flocculant to effectively remove impurities in the water; in the construction industry, it can be used as a cement additive to improve the fluidity and operability of concrete.

As a multifunctional chemical substance, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is indispensable in supporting multiple industries. From food, medicine to cosmetics, papermaking, textiles and other fields, it plays an important role. With the development of technology and the expansion of application fields, the potential of CMC-Na will be further explored, providing more possibilities and value for all walks of life.