Cellulose & Starch Ethers
Explore when the technical problem involves water retention, thickening, workability, open time, sag resistance, suspension or formulation consistency.
Product Selection Guides
Select by Application and Target Performance — Not by Product Name Alone
Two additives can look similar on paper and still behave differently in a real formulation.
MICHEM product selection starts with what you are producing, how the material is applied and which performance targets matter most. Technical data then helps narrow the options before laboratory and customer trials confirm the final choice.
Use these guides to prepare a clearer product-selection brief before requesting a grade or sample.
Selection Framework
The MICHEM Selection Track
Five stations on one rail — from finished material to verified performance. Follow the track before requesting a grade or sample.
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01
Define the Application
Begin with the finished material. The application determines which functions matter and which product families should be evaluated.
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02
Define the Performance Target
Avoid asking only for “HPMC,” “RDP” or “fiber.” Instead, identify the result you need to improve.
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03
Describe Formulation Context
A product does not work in isolation. Share enough system context — without unnecessary proprietary detail.
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04
Explore Product Family
Match the technical problem to a MICHEM product family before comparing individual grades.
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05
Confirm by Testing
Laboratory evaluation and customer trials confirm the final choice under real production conditions.
Product Families
Which Product Family Should You Explore?
Start with the performance problem, then enter the family most likely to address it.
Redispersible Polymer Powders
Explore when the target involves adhesion, cohesion, flexibility, impact resistance, water resistance, flow or other polymer-modified mortar properties.
Superplasticizers
Explore when the target involves water reduction, flow, workability and compatibility in cementitious systems.
Construction Fibers
Explore when the target involves plastic-shrinkage crack control, reinforcement, toughness, fatigue resistance, impact performance or durability.
Functional Additives
Explore when a formulation requires more specific control of air, hydrophobicity, setting, early strength, rheology or another focused performance area.
Selection Logic
Compare Functions, Not Just Numbers
A viscosity value, ash content, bulk density, MFFT or particle size can help describe a product, but a single number should not be the only selection criterion.
How does the product behave in your formulation?
This is why MICHEM combines product data with application evaluation.
Performance Matching
Replacement Product? Use Performance Matching
When replacing an existing raw material, provide:
- Current product or reference sample, if available
- Technical data
- Application
- Current dosage
- Target result
- Observed performance
- Important properties that must not change
MICHEM can then evaluate whether an existing grade may be suitable or whether further adjustment should be considered.
Product matching should be based on actual performance rather than appearance or a single specification.
System Thinking
New Formulation? Build the Additive System Around the Target
For a new formulation, begin by defining the finished-product requirements before choosing individual additives.
When several materials are involved, evaluate how they work together. Improving one property can influence another part of the system.
A balanced selection process is more useful than optimizing each additive independently.
Verification
The Final Step Is Always Testing
Selection narrows the shortlist. Testing confirms the grade under controlled and production conditions.
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01
Laboratory Evaluation
Compare candidate grades or dosage directions under controlled conditions.
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02
Customer Trial
Confirm performance using your own raw materials, equipment and production conditions.
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03
Review
If the result does not meet the target, review product selection, dosage, formulation compatibility and processing conditions before changing direction.
Next Step
Not Sure Which Grade to Start With?
Send us your application, target performance, current material information and destination market. Our technical team can recommend a practical starting point for evaluation.