The Silica Gel, made from sodium silicate, is a highly porous substance that can absorb up to 40% of its own weight, which makes this the highest absorption capacity of any commercially used Desiccant. Most Silica Gel products can be reused by reactivating the Silica Gel contents (contact your Silica Gel manufacturer or retail partner for specific reactivation instructions for their products).

What is a Tyvek® Packet?
Tyvek® (spunbonded polyolefin) made by DuPont® and is the type of material that the packet is made of. It’s 100% high-density polyethylene, which is spun into tough, continuous fibers to protect package integrity from both product breakthrough inside and rough handling outside. Tyvek® combines the best properties of paper, film, and fabric thanks to its exceptional strength, excellent durability, and high porosity. Tyvek® is so tough, it resists punctures and is ideal for use in abrasive environments. Tyvek®’s tight pore structure keeps even the smallest of particulates from dusting through the package.

Why Use Them?
Desiccant Products (Silica Gel and Clay) are drying agents used to combat humidity or moisture degradation. Products vulnerable to moisture damage need special protection during transportation, storage, etc. to ensure that it remains effective. Silica Gel Packets and Clay Desiccant’s provide a simple, dependable, and economical solution for preventing moisture damage in sealed packaging.

Is Silica Gel safe?
Silica Gel is non-toxic and recognized as a “GRAS” (Generally Recognized As Safe) product by the FDA and CFAI. The industry standard for Dry Food packaging is Silica Gel packaged in Tyvek, Tyvek is a more sturdy and tear resistant material then Cotton.

Some types of Silica Gel, which they consider Indicating Silica Gel, have been impregnated with cobalt chloride, which is blue when it is dry and turns to pink when it is saturated. There have been some significant health and environmental risks attributed to the use of cobalt chloride within the Silica Gel including possibly causing cancer, along with skin and respiratory irritation. We, along with several other retailers, offer a safer alternative which is Indicating Silica Gel that goes from orange to green and does not contain cobalt chloride.

What is Indicating Silica Gel?
Indicating Silica Gel is beads of clear Silica Gel that have been impregnated with a chemical that changes color when it comes into contact with moisture. When the color has changed, it means that the Silica Gel is saturated and needs to be replaced or reactivated. This can be useful when long term humidity control is needed, like in a display case.

Some types of Indicating Silica Gel have been impregnated with Cobalt Chloride (II) (normally a Blue or Pink color of Silica Gel) which is classified as a IARC Group 2B carcinogen. Our Cobalt Chloride FREE indicating Silica Gel beads will turn from Orange to Dark Green when the Silica Gel is about 60% absorbed with moisture.

What are some uses for Silica Gel?
Silica Gel has many uses, many of which fall under the category of preventing moisture damage. Many manufacturers include Silica Gel packets in their electronics packaging which helps protect the electronics from moisture damage. Silica Gel has also been known to assist in drying electronic devices that have gotten wet by placing device in an airtight container with some Silica Gel, thus removing most if not all of the moisture from the device more effectively than air drying and more safely than applying heat. Leather goods are often transported with Silica Gels to help protect them from moisture damage. Storing leather goods with Silica Gel packets can also help protect them from moisture and make them last much longer.

If you have ever seen dried flowers and wondered how they managed to dry them and maintain the colors and shapes, they probably used Silica Gel. Covering the flowers with loose Silica Beads while they are still vibrant and firm dries them quickly, which helps maintain the color and shape of the flowers. Silica Gel can also be placed in a gun safe to help prevent moisture damage to both guns and ammunition.

For people who use dry bags or dry boxes while participating in water sports adding Silica Gel packets to dry bags or dry boxes absorbs any moisture that may have gotten in. Adding a Silica Gel packet to an underwater camera case can help absorb any moisture that may have gotten in when the camera was being put in the case. For scuba divers, the changes in pressure and temperature as they descend can cause any moisture present in the waterproof case to condense – the Silica Gel packets prevents this condensation from collecting on the camera. Vitamins and pills are often packaged with Silica Gel packets to prevent the damage or decomposition due to moisture in the bottle. Silica Gel packets are also used to help keep dried food, like beef jerky and pepperoni, fresh.

How should I dispose of these Silica Gel products?
The Silica Gel packets that are found with products you purchase, like electronics and leather goods, can simply be thrown away in the trash. If the Silica Gel has come into contact with a toxic or hazardous material, it could potentially become toxic from the absorbed material. In this event, the Silica Gel should be disposed of in the same manner as the hazardous material that contaminated it.

How much Silica Gel should I use for my application?
The coverage areas as stated are estimates when used in an enclosed air tight container. The amount of Silica Gel or Desiccant required will depend upon several factors including: the chemical characteristics of the product, volume contents of container, physical properties of the container, and conditions in which container will be stored/used. Use the chart below to get an idea of how much to start out using.

• Minimum Requirements – Container Size – Packet Size:
  • 70 cubic inches – ½ gram
  • 100 cubic inches – ¾ gram
  • 130 cubic inches – 1 gram
  • 260 cubic inches – 2 grams
  • 389 cubic inches – 3 grams
  • 648 cubic inches – 5 grams
  • 1296 cubic inches – 10 grams
  • 2 cubic feet – 28 grams
  • 4 cubic feet – 56 grams
  • 8 cubic feet – 112 grams
  • 16 cubic feet – 224 grams
  • 32 cubic feet – 448 grams
  • 15 cubic feet – 200 grams
  • 33 cubic feet – 450 grams
  • 57 cubic feet – 750 grams
  • 66 cubic feet – 900 grams

Which products meet the FDA requirements to be used with dry food packaging?
Silica Gel is non-toxic and recognized as a “GRAS” (Generally Recognized As Safe) product by the FDA. Although Cotton, Tyvek, and our 1 Gram Plastic Canister both meet the FDA requirements for use in Dry Food Packaging, the industry standard is Silica Gel packaged in Tyvek or our 1 Gram Plastic Canister.

What size Silica Gel Packet should I use in my 5 gallon bucket?
A 5 gallon bucket is about 1158 CU IN in volume which means a 10 gram Silica Gel Packet would be ideal under normal air tight conditions. If dealing with extreme moist conditions (shipping overseas, storing in uncontrolled environment, or if valuables are especially sensitive to moisture) you can look at using a 28 Gram Silica Gel Packet.

What size Silica Gel Packet should I use in my 55 gallon drum?
A 55 gallon bucket is about 7.36 CU FT in volume which means a 112 gram Silica Gel Packet would be ideal under normal air tight conditions. If dealing with extreme moist conditions (shipping overseas, storing in uncontrolled environment, or if valuables are especially sensitive to moiustre) you can look at using a 224 Gram Silica Gel Packet.

Will Silica Gel work in my freezer?
Silica Gel will continue to absorb moisture below freezing, but performs best at room temperatures (70-90º F).

Will Silica Gel absorb boiling water?
Silica Gel will work past the boiling point of water, but performs best at room temperatures (70-90º F).

Does your Silica Gel contain Cobalt Chloride?
Our Indicating (Orange) Silica Gel and Non-Indicating (White) Silica Gel does NOT contain DMF or Cobalt Chloride (II) (normally a Blue or Pink color of Silica Gel) which is classified as a IARC Group 2B carcinogen. Our Cobalt Chloride FREE indicating Silica Gel beads will turn from Orange to Dark Green when the Silica Gel is about 60% absorbed with moisture.

How much Silica Gel is in a “Unit”?
Often times you’ll hear Silica Gel referred to in “Units”. A “Unit” of Silica Gel is about 28 Grams. So if you need 16 units of Silica Gel, you’d need a 448 Gram Silica Gel Packet (28 grams x 16 Units = 448 Grams).