In the textile industry, cellulose ethers can be used as sizing, leveling, and thickening agents of textile pulp.

Sizing Agents

Cellulose ethers such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and other varieties can be used as sizing agents, and are difficult to go bad or moldy. In printing and dyeing, without desizing, they can promote the dye to obtain a uniform colloid in water.

 Leveling Agents

Cellulose ethers can enhance the hydrophilicity and penetration of dye. As the viscosity change is small, it is easy to adjust the color difference. Cationic cellulose ethers also have  hyperchromic effects in printing and dyeing.

Thickening Agents

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose can act as a thickening agent in printing pastes, with features like small residue and high coloring rate, and is a very promising class of textile auxiliaries.