Ice packs are well-known for their ability to absorb significant amounts of heat due to the high latent heat of fusion of water. These packs are commonly used to:
- Keep food cool in portable coolers
- Serve as a cold compress to alleviate the pain of minor injuries
- Maintain the temperature of products during transport in insulated shipping containers
There are two main types of cold packs: ice packs and instant ice packs. Instant ice packs are often more popular because they do not spill easily or cause contamination if the container breaks.
What is the Chemical in Instant Ice Packs?
The chemical in instant ice packs is called sodium polyacrylate. This remarkable polymer can absorb hundreds of times its weight in water. Sodium polyacrylate is also widely used in common hygiene products such as paper diapers and sanitary towels, making it a non-toxic, harmless, and dissolvable material.
How to Judge the Quality of Sodium Polyacrylate
To evaluate the quality of sodium polyacrylate in ice packs, consider the following parameters:
- Absorption: How much liquid the polymer can absorb.
- Absorbent Rate: How quickly the polymer absorbs liquid.
- Absorption Under Pressure and Retention Capacity After Centrifugation: Ensures that the gel effectively locks in water.
- Particle Size Distribution: The consistency of the polymer particles.
About GELSAP
As a professional manufacturer of gel ice pack contents, GELSAP offers high-quality sodium polyacrylate. For more details about our products, please contact our support team!