HPMC is vegan and vegetarian friendly. Nobody really wants to swallow a capsule made from boiled cow bones if they have a choice, so gelatin capsules have become unpopular with educated consumers. HPMC has no natural taste, smell or colour, although many capsules will have colours added. Most people find HPMC easy to swallow. It also dissolves in the stomach quite quickly, often in just 5-10 minutes. Bovine gelatin capsules take longer to dissolve at more like 20 minutes. Tablets can take hours to dissolve completely. This makes HPMC capsules an ideal delivery method for most supplements, where we want the powdered vitamin or mineral content to arrive quickly and comfortably into the users stomach.
- Applications of HPMC in Gelation Temperature Control
In regions with significant temperature differences between summer and winter, it is advisable to use lower viscosity HPMC during the winter season for better construction results. Otherwise, at lower temperatures, the viscosity of the cellulose increases, resulting in a heavier feel during application and scraping.
HPMC

The mechanism of action of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose is a result of its unique molecular structure. HPMC is a cellulose derivative with hydrophilic hydroxypropyl and methyl groups attached to the cellulose backbone. When added to a formulation, HPMC disperses in water to form a colloidal solution.

HPMC

However, a number of people have contacted me to say they cannot eat food that contains it.

