CMC (Carboxymethyl Cellulose)

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is the sodium salt of a cellulose ether — one of the most widely used water-soluble polymers in industrial chemistry. The carboxymethyl substitution makes the cellulose backbone soluble in water, giving CMC its hallmark properties: viscosity development, water-binding, film-forming, and stabilization. Five Rivers Materials supplies both technical-grade CMC for oilfield applications and FCC food-grade CMC for food and beverage manufacturers.

In drilling fluids, technical-grade CMC functions as a filtrate-control additive and viscosifier — particularly effective in fresh-water and low-salinity mud systems. In food applications, purified CMC (with strict residual chloride and degree-of-substitution control) serves as a clean-label texturizer in ice cream, dairy alternatives, bakery products, and sauces. The two markets share the same backbone chemistry but require completely different purity profiles — we supply each from a dedicated production stream with separate documentation.