Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a non-ionic surfactant. HEC is soluble in hot or cold water, and does not precipitate when boiled at high temperature or boiling, giving it a wide range of solubility and viscosity characteristics, and non-thermal gelation; HEC is used in fracturing method for mining oil water-based gel fracturing fluid, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride and other polymeric dispersants. It can also be used as latex thickener in paint industry, humidity resistance in electronics industry, cement coagulant and water retention agent in construction industry. It is also widely used in mortar, putty powder, gypsum and other building materials. HEC can be used as a surfactant, colloidal protective agent, emulsion stabilizer such as vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, etc. The dispersing ability of HEC is the worst when compared with the recognized methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, but the protective colloid is the strongest.