Hydroxypropyl starch ether — the anti-sag additive that works alongside your HPMC. Better workability. Lower formulation cost. Biodegradable. Factory direct from Michem Chemical.
Dry mix mortar manufacturers face a common challenge: HPMC prices keep rising while margins shrink. Starch ether (HPS) is the smart solution.
Cellulose ether raw material costs increased 15-25% in recent years, squeezing your mortar formulation margins tighter than ever.
Tile adhesive and plaster slide down walls before curing. Workers complain about “dropping” — costing time and wasted material on jobsites.
In hot climates (Middle East, India, Southeast Asia), mortar dries too fast. Tiles lose adhesion. Rework increases labor costs by 20%.
Uneven water retention leads to inconsistent curing, cracking, and weak bond strength — especially in gypsum-based products.
LEED, BREEAM, and other certifications demand biodegradable, renewable materials. Synthetic-only additives are under scrutiny.
Your buyers demand lower prices, but you can’t cut quality. You need a formulation edge that reduces cost without compromising performance.
Starch ether doesn't replace HPMC — it complements it. A small addition creates outsized results.
Exceptional anti-sagging on vertical surfaces. Tile adhesive stays where applied — even on large-format tiles. No sliding, no rework.
Just 0.05% HPS lets you cut HPMC usage by 20-30%. Real cost savings on every ton of dry mix mortar produced.
Made from natural starch (potato/corn). Renewable, biodegradable, and compostable. Meets green building material standards.
Extends working time significantly — critical for hot climate applications in Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia.
They are NOT competitors. They are partners. Here's how they compare side-by-side.
| Property | HPS (Starch Ether) | HPMC (Cellulose Ether) | Best Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Sag Performance | ✔ Excellent | Moderate | Use HPS for anti-slip |
| Water Retention | Good | ✔ Superior | Use HPMC for retention |
| Cost per kg | ✔ 30-50% lower | Higher | HPS saves formulation cost |
| Typical Dosage | 0.02% - 0.10% | 0.2% - 0.5% | Tiny HPS, large effect |
| Open Time | ✔ Excellent | Good | HPS extends workability |
| Biodegradable | ✔ Yes (natural starch) | Partially | HPS for green certifications |
| Rheology Control | ✔ Excellent | Good | HPS smooths consistency |
| Can Replace Each Other? | ❌ No — They complement, not replace | Always use together | |
Adding HPS to your formulation reduces material cost without sacrificing performance.
Add just 0.05% HPS and reduce HPMC by 20-30%. The HPS provides anti-sag and extended open time that HPMC alone cannot deliver at this cost level.
On the cellulose ether component of your dry mix formulation — depending on current HPMC dosage and grade.
Performance maintained or improved. Anti-sag, open time, and workability all get better while material cost goes down.
Where HPS makes the biggest impact in construction formulations.
Anti-slip and anti-sag on vertical surfaces. Extends open time for large-format tile installation. Reduces tile adjustment after placement.
Improves consistency and workability of gypsum-based products. Controls setting time. Reduces shrinkage and cracking in gypsum plaster.
Enhanced rheology and smooth application. Better water retention and extended open time for hot climate construction.
Silky smooth surface finish. Anti-sag for vertical application. Reduced trowel drag — faster application for contractors.
Flow control and anti-bleeding. Prevents segregation during leveling. Compatible with PCE superplasticizers.
Improved adhesion of base coat to insulation boards. Anti-sag on vertical EIFS surfaces. Works with both cement and gypsum base coats.
HPS works best as part of a synergistic additive system. Here are proven combinations.
HPS provides anti-sag + open time. HPMC provides water retention + adhesion. Together they cover all performance requirements at lower total cost.
Triple system for C1/C2 tile adhesive. HPS anti-slip + HPMC retention + RDP flexibility. Meets EN 12004 requirements.
HPS controls rheology + PCE provides superplasticizing effect. Excellent for floor leveling compounds with high flow and zero segregation.
Michem HPS — consistent quality, batch after batch.
| Property | Standard | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Visual | White fine powder |
| Viscosity (2% solution, 20°C) | Brookfield | 500 ~ 8,000 mPa·s |
| Moisture Content | Karl Fischer | ≤ 10% |
| pH Value (1% solution) | pH meter | 9 ~ 12 |
| Ash Content | Combustion | ≤ 0.5% |
| Whiteness | Spectrophotometer | ≥ 85% |
| Particle Size | Sieve analysis | ≥ 95% pass 80 mesh |
| Bulk Density | Graduated cylinder | 0.45 ~ 0.65 g/cm³ |
| Dosage Recommendation | — | 0.02% ~ 0.10% of dry mix weight |
| Packaging | — | 25 kg PE bag, 500 kg/pallet |
Direct manufacturer with full quality control. No middleman, no compromise.
Most Chinese factories produce only HPMC. We have separate production lines and R&D specifically for HPS, ensuring consistent quality for global applications.
Our HPS grades are equivalent to Dow WaloCel, Ashland Natrosol, Shin-Etsu Metolose and Tylose MHEC. Cross-reference data available for direct substitution.
Direct from manufacturer to your plant. Competitive pricing for bulk orders. Flexible MOQ (1 ton standard, smaller trial orders accepted).
Our technical team understands EN 998-1, EN 13499 and ETAG 004 requirements. We can recommend the optimal grade and dosage for your ETICS system.
200g–500g free samples shipped via FedEx/DHL within 7 days. Test with your formulation before committing to a bulk order.
We have a comprehensive supply chain system and source only high-quality, certified raw materials.
✅ Comprehensive TDS & Brochure – Get in-depth technical details about our HPS.
✅ Free Sample (200g or 400g per bag) – Test our high-quality HPS in your formulations.
✅ Fast & Reliable Delivery – Shipped via FedEx or DHL straight to your door.
✅ Expert Support – Assistance with formula adjustments and technical guidance.
Available in:
• 500kg/Pallet (4 bags/ layer) • 600kg/Pallet (4 bags/ layer) • Customized packaging
*Notes:Please make sure Michem HPS products are sealed and stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or fire sources.
What our clients say about Michem HPS in their formulations.
"We added Michem HPS to our tile adhesive formulation and reduced HPMC by 25%. The anti-slip performance improved noticeably on large-format tiles. Our workers love it — less rework, faster installation."
"For our gypsum skim coat, Michem HPS solved the sagging problem on hot days in Riyadh. Open time extended from 20 to 35 minutes. Excellent batch-to-batch consistency."
"We use Michem HPS + HPMC + RDP in our C2 tile adhesive. The synergy is real — we passed EN 12004 certification with lower material cost than our previous all-HPMC formula."
No. HPS and HPMC serve different functions. HPS excels at anti-sag, anti-slip, and extending open time. HPMC provides superior water retention and adhesion. The optimal approach is to use them together — HPS reduces the amount of HPMC needed, saving cost while improving overall performance.
Typical dosage is 0.02% to 0.10% of the total dry mix weight. For most tile adhesive and plaster formulations, 0.03% – 0.06% is sufficient. Start with a small test batch and adjust based on your specific formulation and climate conditions.
Industry practice shows that adding 0.05% HPS typically allows a 20-30% reduction in HPMC dosage without compromising performance. Exact savings depend on your current HPMC grade, dosage level, and application requirements.
Yes. HPS is fully compatible with polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCE), redispersible polymer powder (RDP), cellulose ethers (HPMC/HEMC), retarders, and other common dry mix additives. It does not negatively affect setting time or strength development.
Michem HPS is produced from high-quality potato and corn starch through hydroxypropyl etherification. The raw material is natural, renewable, and fully biodegradable — meeting green building material requirements.
Get 200g free HPS samples + technical datasheet. Test it in your own lab. See the savings for yourself.
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