How to Protect Your Valuables with Desiccants

Why do you need to use desiccants? How often have you received a package and found that it was damp or wet inside? If this has happened, then there is a good chance that the moisture got in because of air humidity. This means that if your packages are not sealed properly, they can be ruined by water vapor as well as liquid water. Moisture also causes mold and mildew to grow inside your packages, decreasing their value and making them unsellable. Desiccants help remove any residual moisture from the packaging material so that your products won't be damaged during storage or transport.

There are different types of desiccants, such as clay desiccants which are packs made up of clay pellets. Most of these clay desiccant packets are made with materials that can absorb moisture up to they can hold (their "sorption capacity"). After the desiccant has reached its sorption capacity, it must be regenerated in an oven so that it may be reused again. This is done by baking the desiccant at a temperature of around 200 degrees to drive off the moisture.

Gel desiccants are another type of desiccant, and they absorb moisture much like clay desiccants. However, instead of being made with clay, gel desiccants use silica gel, an amorphous form of silicon dioxide. Silica gel is composed of tiny glass-like particles. It can absorb water and retain it within its structure due to the strong chemical bonding between hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms, creating a "hydrated" bond. The more water that silica gel is exposed to, the firmer the gel will become.

Silica Gel desiccants can be regenerated similarly to clay desiccants by heating them in an oven at a temperature of 200 degrees. Hence, they release the moisture and may be reused again after cooling down. Silica Gel desiccants are considered superior to clay desiccants because they are reusable, and they can be dried out at lower temperatures making them more cost-effective. Gel desiccants also come in a variety of shapes and sizes for different applications, such as bulk bags, bag-in-box systems, paper packets, etc. You can also find gel desiccants used to keep the relative humidity levels inside packaging materials at a certain level. Although silica gel desiccants are manufactured through a chemical process, it's non-toxic and approved by the FDA for contact with food.

Container Dri® desiccants are made up of activated calcium chloride, which is originally mined from the earth. These desiccants are an essential part of your supply chain that helps minimize the amount of moisture and prevent the costs associated with container rain. Container Dri® products can be applied in various industries such as rail cars, shipping containers, and trailers to help maintain a dry environment for valuable goods. Various industries such as food, automotive, and metal stand a great chance of reaping huge benefits by applying Container Dri® desiccants.

Most of these desiccants are made with materials that can be reused to hold moisture (their "sorption capacity"). After the desiccant has reached its sorption capacity, it must be regenerated in an oven so that it may be reused again. All of these types of desiccants can remove moisture from your packages.