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What is Silica Gel?
What is Silica Gel?
Moisture in your products isn’t fun. When you’re trying to avoid rusty components, mouldy textiles or degraded foodstuffs, moisture is your number one enemy.
That’s where Silica Gel Sachets save the Day. These little bags of beads suck the moisture from the surrounding area, stopping those pesky problems before they can even begin. The science behind desiccant packs is quite interesting – keep on reading to learn more.
What is Silica Gel?
Silica Gel isn’t a gel at all – it’s a clear solid that looks like beads or crystals. A porus form of silicon dioxode, it’s made from sodium silicate (a compound found in sand), and is used to absorb and hold moisture. It is a go to solution for humidity control for many industries.
What is Silica Gel Used For?
It’s probably easier to explain what it isn’t used for – there are thousands of applications for silica gel packets.
Silica gel can be found in packaging for electronics, medications, dog treats, clothing, leather goods, and food. You might have spotted desiccant sachets in a shoe box, or the pocket of a new coat.
Its job is to prevent moisture from causing damage in transit or storage, such as:
Rusting of metal components
Reducing or preventing mould from growing on paper, textiles or leather
Spoilage of food and vitamins
Condensation damage to electronics
When Might Silica Gel Not Be Useful?
While it’s a highly effective all-rounder, silica gel might not be suitable in environments like very open spaces or those that have high humidity, as it can become saturated quickly.
It also might not be suitable in large, sensitive, or volatile shipments, where more advanced desiccant solutions may be needed.
Where to Buy Silica Gel
Looking to buy silica gel in bulk? At Springpack, we supply silica gel sachets in a variety of sizes from 1g – 250g sachets, to suit your needs. Whether you’re shipping sensitive electronics or storing pharmaceuticals, our moisture-absorbing solutions are designed to keep your products safe and dry.
Our Silica Gel Sachets are all available on a short lead time, you can browse the range or place an order by clicking here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is silica gel toxic?
In theory, no silica gel. Silica gel itself is widely regarded as non toxic, but that doesn’t mean you should try to eat it as it may have other additives. Contact your local poison control if you ingest Silica Gel. It should always be kept away from children and pets.
Can silica gel be reused?
Yes, many silica gel products can be reused. The products that can be reused will have this indicated on the packaging.
How do I know when silica gel is saturated?
Some silica gel sachets have areas that change colour when they are saturated. Though this is’t common, so is a good idea to replace them regularly.
How should silica gel be stored?
It’s a good idea to keep silica gel sachets in their original packaging until use, and to use them sooner rather than later, as they are always absorbing moisture from the air.
What size silica gel sachet do I need?
This depends on the volume of the space you want to protect. Our team at Springpack can help recommend the right size for your packaging needs.
If you are interested in Packaging, Springpack are experts in the field. Our team of Packaging Experts have all of the answers to your packaging questions. Why not get in touch with us today?
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Author: Alice Jeavons
Springpack is a UK packaging company delivering sustainable solutions that empower customers. We prioritise exceptional service, building strong relationships and developing innovative packaging solutions tailored to unique needs. Sustainability drives us, from eco-friendly materials to reusable practices minimising waste and emissions. As a family-run business, we’ve grown from humble beginnings to industry forerunners. Our passion lies in making a positive impact in our community and the lives of customers, employees, and stakeholders through outstanding service that exceeds expectations.