Silica Gel Desiccant

Silica gel desiccant is a highly porous granular substance made up of silica beads that adsorb moisture within an enclosed space. Silica gel has a very large surface area and is effective in controlling humidity while protecting products from moisture damage during storage or shipping. Silica gel desiccants come in variety of form factors including packets (breathable), canisters or loose fill. Silica gel is non-toxic, chemically inert, and stable well above and below normal ambient temperatures.

Among the most used desiccants, silica gel is our most popular desiccant in the electronics, pharmaceuticals, food packaging and consumer products markets. Some benefits are that it is reusable (can be reactivated by heating), dust-free for sensitive applications, and comes in a variety of shapes. Silica gel with moisture indicative blue/orange beads allows for visual monitoring of humidity and can provide reliable protection and reassurance to consumers while meeting FDA/ISO safety standards.

Applications of Silica Gel Desiccants

Packaging & Transportation

Silica gel desiccants are necessary to protect products in transit and storage. Silica gel desiccants are packaged in breathable sachets or canisters, and manage humidity in shipping containers, cartons, and crates. Silica gel absorbs moisture in the ambient air, and prevents condensation, mold, metal corrosion, and damage to moisture sensitive materials. Silica gel is perfect for electronics, machinery, art, and paper products, to ensure items arrive in the right condition no matter what climate change may have occurred during the logistics of global transport.

Electronics Industry

Silica gel is well known for its moisture control properties in electronic manufacturing and storage. Proper protection of sensitive components is critical, especially in packaging of items such as circuit boards, semiconductors, or optical devices. By using silica gel in sealed packages, or sealed cabinets, electronics are kept in low-humidity environments. This reduces the risks of unforeseen damage to components from oxidation, electrical shorts, and performance failures of any kind. The properties of silica gel, non-corrosive, dust-free, and safe for direct contact with delicates parts, ensures safe shipping and handling from factoryels in an unopened condition.

Pharmaceutical Industry

Silica gel provides vital moisture prevention in medicine bottles, diagnostic kits and as a component of medical device packaging. Silica gel satisfies FDA and pharmacopeia requirements and protects tablets, capsules, and laboratory reagents from both moisture-driven degradation and elevated moisture levels. Importantly, silica gel acts to stabilize humidity levels in sealed environments extending shelf-life, sterility, and therapeutic effectiveness or viability. Silica gel packets not only work well to smooth out humidity changes, but they are also transparent which allows a visual inspection. Furthermore, cobalt-free silica gel packets pose no toxicity issues in deliberately sensitive applications.

Food Industry

Permitted for direct food contact (FDA, EU), silica gel protects dry foods, such as spices, snacks, and supplements, by adsorbing moisture during storage. Silica gel prevents clumping, microbial growth, and loss of flavor and texture by adsorbing moisture within sealed packaging. Silica gel is non-toxic, non-reactive and odor-free, and extends shelf life without changing the taste of the food product. You can design your own silica gel sachets that can fit inside packages, jars or pouches, making it a highly versatile, and indispensable tool for preserving quality for the life cycle of the product, from production to consumption.

Automotive Industry

Silica gel protects precision automotive parts (sensors, engine components) during warehousing and shipping. When placed in packaging to the component specific enclosures, it prevents oxidation and condensation and also electrical failures due to humidity. Silica gel is thermally stable (−40°C to 150°C) for performance in extreme conditions, the non-abrasive beads do not damage polished surfaces, and it absorbs excess humidity.