Thickeners are mainly divided into 6 categories

First category
The cellulose-thickening mechanism is that the hydrophobic main chain associates with the surrounding water molecules through hydrogen bonds, which increases the fluid volume of the polymer itself and reduces the space for free movement of particles, thereby increasing the viscosity of the system.

Second category
Natural polymers and their derivatives - starch, gelatin, sodium alginate, casein, guar gum, chitosan, gum arabic, xanthan gum, soy protein gum, natural rubber, lanolin, agar.

Third category
Alkali swelling type - thickening mechanism is anionic alkali swelling. Under alkaline conditions, the molecular chain stretches from a helical shape to a rod shape through the homostatic electrostatic repulsion of carboxylate ions, thereby increasing the viscosity of the water phase. In addition, it also increases the viscosity of the system by bridging between the latex particles and the pigment to form a network structure.

Fourth category
Polyurethanes-thickening mechanism is the introduction of hydrophilic groups and hydrophobic groups into the molecular structure, so that it exhibits certain properties of surfactants.

Fifth category
Inorganic substances - swell to form flocculent substances after absorbing water, have good suspension and dispersibility, and combine with an appropriate amount of water to form a colloid, which can release charged particles in water and increase the viscosity of the system.

Sixth category
metal