AQUALON® EC is a non-ionic ethyl ether of cellulose, soluble in a wide range of organic solvents. Typically, ethylcellulose is used as a non-swellable, insoluble component in matrix or coating systems. When water soluble binders cannot be used in dosage processing because of water sensitivity of the active ingredient, ethylcellulose is often chosen.

Ethylcellulose can be used to coat one or more active ingredients of a tablet to prevent them from reacting with other materials or with one another. It can prevent discoloration of easily oxidizable substances such as ascorbic acid, allowing granulations for easily compressed tablets and other dosage forms. Ethylcellulose can be used on its own or in combination with water-soluble polymers to prepare sustained release film coatings that are frequently used for the coating of micro-particles, pellets and tablets.