What is a ‘Desiccant’ and what does it do ?
A desiccant is a drying agent. It adsorbs and holds particles of water to itself.
How much desiccant do I need to use ?
It depends. The answer to the size of desiccant needed depends on the size of the air space to be desiccated, the nature of the material in the package, the moisture barrier surrounding the package, the type of desiccant being used, the desired shelf life, the atmosphere conditions where the package is sealed, the type of seal on the package, etc. When we receive a call from someone looking for a desiccant, we will ask a number of questions to determine this information so we can calculate which size desiccant will work best in a particular application.
There are two major forms of desiccant : Silica Gel and Molecular Sieve. For further information on these products, please click on the links below:
What is Silica Gel ?
What is Molecular Sieve ?
How are Desiccants best used ?
To be used most effectively, desiccants should be used within a closed/sealed moisture barrier or a rigid/sealed container. Humidity indicating cards are generally placed inside the container to show the humidity level and indicate when the desiccant needs to be replaced.
How long will the Desiccant last ?
It depends. Packaging and environment dramatically affect the lifetime of the desiccant. In a tightly sealed environment desiccants can last for years.
