Polycol WP-05 is a etherified polysaccaride with a low viscosity mainly used as a thickener/rheology modifier for waterbased wall-paints, plasters and other waterbased coatings up to pH max. 11. Further to the thickening effect, the product stabilises pigments and fillers and regulates the water retention (open time) after paint application. Solutions of Polycol WP-05 behave slightly pseudoplastically; i.e. the viscosity decreases slightly as a function of increased shear-rate, independent of time. The production process of Polycol WP-05 includes a special surface treatment, which delays the swelling of the product in water at a neutral or slightly acidic pH. This enables the user to disperse Polycol WP-05 easily in water without getting lumps. By increasing the pH to 8.5 – 9 or higher, the swelling occurs immediately.