March 2026: We are doing major upgrades to code here, please be patient regarding any issues. If any page is not working for a period of hours, please contact us. Thank you.

Monthly Tech-Tip from Tony Hansen SignUp

Feb 14-15, 2026 - Major Server Upgrade Done

No tracking! No ads!

Materials for Ceramics

1-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | Frits | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Methocel

Description: Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Notes

A cellulose ethers. To prepare a solution of Methocel, do one of the following:

-Heat approximately 1/3 of required volume of water to at least 194F (90C). Add the METHOCEL powder while, agitate until particles are thoroughly wetted and evenly dispersed. For complete solubilization, add remainder of water as cold or ice to lower temperature until water soluble temperature is reached. The powder then begins to hydrate and viscosity increases. Continue agitation for at least 30 minutes after the proper temperature is reached.

-Combine METHOCEL powder with other dry ingredients. For glazes 1/2% or less is usually suitable. Thoroughly blend the dry ingredients, then add the dry mix to the water and mix thoroughly until the mix is stable (this could take some time). The rate of hydration will depend on how well the particles of Methocel have been separated by the other dry ingredients.

SAFETY:
These products are used in the food industry and so pose little danger from ingestion. Like flour dust, however, they can pose an explosion danger when poor hygenic practices results in heavy dust.

Contact Dow Chemical, Technical Service & Development, METHOCEL Cellulose Ethers, Larkin Laboratory, MIDLAND, MI 48674 for more information and the METHOCEL Cellulose Ethers Technical Handbook. For samples, call 1-800-258-2436 Ext 26/METHOCEL.

Dow Chemical USA
Chemicals and Performance Products
2020 Willard H. Dow Center
MIDLAND, MI 48674

Related Information

Links

Oxide	Analysis	Formula	Tolerance

Typecodes	Additives for Ceramic Glazes Materials that are added to glazes to impart physical working properties and usually burn away during firing. In industry all glazes, inks and engobes have additives, they are considered essential to control of cohesion, adhesion, suspension, dry hardness, surface leveling, rheology, speed-of-drying, etc. Among potters, it is common for glazes to have zero additives.
Typecodes	Additives for Ceramic Bodies Materials that are added to bodies to impart physical working properties and usually burn away during firing. Binders enable bodies with very low or zero clay content to have plasticity and dry hardness, they can give powders flow properties during pressing and impart rheological properties to clay slurries. Among potters however, it is common for bodies to have zero additives.
Materials	Methylcellulose
URLs	https://www.dow.com/en-us/pdp.methocel-e4m-premium-hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose.066195z.html? Methocel Data Sheet

By Tony Hansen
Follow me on

Got a Question?

Buy me a coffee and we can talk