Dry Ice Vs Gel Packs

Deciding between dry ice and cold packs when choosing between dry ice and cold packs start by considering the temperature requirements for your shipment and the relative benefits of each approach.

Dry ice vs gel packs.

If you are shipping larger volumes simply multiply the amount of coolant by these ratios. Typically dry ice will keep products frozen longer than gel packs. However it doesn t last as long as many of the ice packs on the market and it will still leave you with a watery mess in the end. Typical ice packs are water and polymer gel based or in the case of bricks saturated floral foam and then sealed in poly bags.

Cold gel packs contain a special gel that can be frozen and refrozen. Dry ice is actually carbon dioxide it s what you breathe out when you exhale and it s what makes soda fizzy. They both leave much to be desired. Dry ice is much colder maintaining a temperature of around 78 5 c 109 3 f as it sublimates and becomes co2 gas.

If you are handling frozen products with dry ice be sure to follow all safety precautions. Gel packs like k lock synthetic gel packs are water based. Just store the packs in the freezer until needed. The cooler shock dry cooler gel pack is a re usable ice pack that can be stocked in coolers over and over.

Ice bags are better for ankles and knees for a longer cold period. It keeps ice colder longer so it doesn t melt as quickly. Start by filling up the pack with 3 5 cups of cold water and use an iron to seal it shut. Additionally the product that the gel pack is keeping cold will not get wet like it would with wet ice as the refrigerant gel is sealed into a plastic pouch.

Dry ice is safer for the environment. Dry ice can be more cost effective. For gel packs it is recommended you use one pound of gel packs for each cubic foot for every 24 hours. Being a single item also gives gel packs the advantages of ease of use and storage with the added benefit of being reusable if so desired.

This means that they freeze and thaw at roughly the same temperature as water would around 0 c 32 f. Old methods include gel packs or dry ice. Most ice packs and bricks have a phase change point around 0 c or 32 f which would be the temperature point where the material transitions from a solid to a liquid or vice versa. Keep coolant and product separate.

Because dry ice turns into co2 gas and not water there is no secondary waste. The advances made by techni ice are truly amazing. Dry ice is hideously expensive and hard to locate. Techni ice made in austrailia is now available.

Gel packs are only good for a couple of hours and they start to melt. Dry ice is made from recycled co2 and does not add to the greenhouse effect.