How Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose CMC Grades Compare for Food and Industrial Use

Quick comparison

The table uses the figures given for each option. The viscosity percentages are not interchangeable, so a buyer should compare grades tested at the same concentration before approving a substitute.

Where the named grades fit

The named-grade option gives a narrower purchasing path for beverage formulators. 20LF and 50LF are listed for juice and soft drinks, with viscosity bands of 25 to 50 cps and 50 to 100 cps at 2%, respectively. 500MF is listed for soft drinks at 100 to 500 cps at 2%, while 1000MF is listed for juice and yogurt at 500 to 2000 cps at 2%.

Two higher-viscosity food grades use a 1% Brookfield test instead. 300HF is listed for juice and milk drinks at 200 to 400 cps, and 500HF is listed for juice at 400 to 600 cps. These grades also carry a 0.7 to 0.95 degree-of-substitution range, while the four LF and MF grades list 0.7 to 1.0.

A beverage buyer should picture the receiving and batching process: the selected grade arrives as a powder, and the production team must match the supplier's test concentration and viscosity range to its formulation checks. Send the beverage type, target viscosity, test concentration, and required purity when requesting a quotation.

Where the broader range fits

The broader option is framed for buyers who may need sodium carboxymethyl cellulose cmc across several process categories. Its listed viscosity range runs from 25 to 9000 cps, depending on grade, with customizable viscosity and substitution ranges. The listed application sectors include oil drilling, food, textiles, paper, construction, pharmaceuticals, and daily chemicals.

Its common specification window is pH 6.0 to 8.5, a degree of substitution of 0.7 to 0.95, and purity from ≥97.0% to 99.5%, depending on grade. Moisture is listed at ≤8.0% to ≤10.0%, also depending on grade. The product page lists Brookfield and ASTM measurement references for viscosity.

This format suits a procurement team that is screening one CMC family for different processes, provided each end use receives its own grade review. For example, an oil-drilling buyer can define the required viscosity and substitution range around mud type and well conditions, while a textile buyer can specify the sizing process and target viscosity. Include the process, concentration, viscosity method, substitution target, purity requirement, and expected annual quantity in the inquiry.

Which option should a buyer choose?

Choose the named food and beverage grades when the purchase is centered on juice, soft drinks, yogurt, or milk drinks and the listed grade bands fit the formulation. The individual grade names make it easier to start a beverage-grade comparison at a defined viscosity and concentration.

Choose the broader range when the buying program covers several industries or needs a wider viscosity window, including grades up to 9000 cps. The key purchasing task is to convert the application into a written specification, because the broad range is grade dependent and the named food grades use different test concentrations.

For a product page and inquiry route, see Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose CMC. Send the application, batch concentration, viscosity test method, target viscosity, degree of substitution, purity, moisture limit, and forecast quantity so the supplier can match the request to a specific grade.