CMC, a water-soluble cellulose ether, serves as a thickener and dispersant in water-based coatings. It ensures excellent color compatibility with TiO₂, iron oxides, and common colorants, minimizing floating, settling, and yellowness—ideal for white and light-colored systems. Widely applied in interior/exterior latex paints, primers, putties, and high-pH formulations, it can be blended with HEC or associative thickeners for enhanced performance.