About Desiccants

Protective Packaging Corporation
is one of the largest providers of desiccants and other moisture absorbing materials in the country. We stock a large variety of clay desiccant, silica gel and molecular siv products both in Kraft paper and Tyvek bags. From military-grade desiccant to pharmaceutical grade silica gel desiccant, we can recommend the correct material to protect your product during transit. To learn more about the most common desiccants, please read the following:

Three Most Common Desiccants

Montmorillonite Clay is a calcium aluminum silicate type of hydros clay which is ground, processed and bagged. It is a natural occurring non-hazardous substance. Clay, the least expensive of all desiccants, is used in most industrial applications requiring humidity control (clay will pickup approx. 26% of its weight at 80% R.H.).

Silica gel is a form of silica manufactured from sodium silicate and sulfuric acid. Like Clay Silica Gel is non-hazardous and is capable of adsorbing 40% of its weight in water vapor at 100% humidity. Silica gel has a porous molecular structure that closely resembles a sponge, and has the highest capacity of any commercial desiccant for moisture adsorption.

Molecular Sieve is a manufactured crystalline version of Zeolite containing a network of uniform pores and empty cavities. Molecular Sieve is derived from sodium potassium or calcium alumina silicate. It is non-hazardous material. Molecular Sieve is the desiccant of choice for the most demanding and unique applications. Molecular Sieve is the most aggressive and expensive of the primary desiccants. (Molecular Sieve will pickup 22% of its weight at 80% R.H.) Molecular Sieve picks up moisture very quickly at low R.H. and low temperatures.

*Carbon: Although not a desiccant, Carbon is often used alone or in blends in packaging application where odor is an issue- i.e. vitamins.

Common forms of packaging materials for desiccants

X-Crepe Kraft paper – (Heat Sealed)

Tyvek (Heat Sealed)

Sewn Bags – Non-woven Rayon/Polyester blend

Packaging Size

X-Crepe Kraft: 1/6 unit thru 4 unit

Typvek: .25 gram thru 16 unit

Sewn Bags: 8 unit thru 80 unit

Outer Packaging

1 gallon metal can (.25 gram thru 14 gram)

5 gallon plastic pails (1/6 unit thru 2 unit)

5 gallon metal pails (1/6 unit thru 2 unit)

30 gallon fiber drum (1/6 unit thru 80 unit)

How Desiccant should be used?

To be most effective desiccants should be used within a closed/sealed moisture barrier, or a rigid sealed container. Humidity indicator cards are generally placed inside the container to show the humidity level and indicate when the desiccant needs to be replaced.

Typical Desiccant Customers

Exporters

Metal Parts

Food, Pharmaceuticals & Vitamins

Electronic Parts

Aerospace

Pet Food

Leather Products

Metal Powders, Powdered or Beaded Glass

Bulk Powdered Chemicals

Humidity Indicator Cards

Humidity Indicator Cards are used to indicate moisture (or to advise the desiccant is fully adsorbed).

Types of Humidity Indicating Cards

One spot – 8%

3 Spot – 10% to 30%

3 spot – 30% to 50%

4 spot – 10% to 40%

6 spot – 10% to 60%

10 spot – 10% to 100%

Contact us for more information about desiccants
How much desiccant do I need?
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