When shipping goods around the world, moisture is your enemy. Excess moisture in your shipping container can cause mold, damage to products and their packaging, and even damage to the container itself. Proper moisture control may mean the difference between a safe and sound shipment and total loss.
In order to control the level of moisture in your shipping container, it’s essential to use desiccants. These moisture-attracting compounds pull moisture from the atmosphere and trap it there, preventing serious damage.
Read on to learn all about desiccant, including what desiccant is, how it works, and how to choose the best desiccant bags for your shipping container.
Desiccant is a type of material that prevents moisture accumulation by attracting and absorbing excess moisture molecules. Desiccant can be used to reduce humidity in the atmosphere, absorb spills or droplets, and in other ways to lower excess moisture and keep an environment dry.
Desiccants fall into two main categories: physical desiccants and chemical desiccants. The two types of desiccant work as follows:
Desiccant and desiccators function thanks to the chemical process known as adsorption, not to be confused with absorption. Most are familiar with absorption; it’s the process through which a sponge soaks up water and holds it inside. During adsorption, on the other hand, the moisture molecules remain on the surface of the desiccant. They never penetrate or absorb into the desiccant.
There are a number of different physical and chemical desiccants on the market, each with their own advantages and drawbacks.
Silica gel desiccant is among the most common desiccants. Silica desiccant bags are often found in consumer goods like apparel, shoes, medications, and more. It’s made from silica, a mineral compound made of oxygen and silicon.
Clay desiccants like montmorillonite clay and bentonite clay are physical desiccators known for their environmental friendliness. They also tend to be a cost-effective option with broad applications.
Molecular sieves are chemical desiccants, commonly made from synthetic materials like aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, and titanium oxide. They are designed to absorb a specific size of molecule, and not larger molecules. Molecular sieve desiccants absorb much more quickly than other types of desiccant.
Calcium chloride is a chemical desiccant that absorbs water in the atmosphere. It’s made of a type of salt known as deliquescent salt, which turns to gel or liquid when it comes into contact with water. It can absorb many times its weight in moisture, but is highly corrosive to metal.
Whether shipping by land or sea, it’s essential to protect your shipment using desiccant bags for shipping containers.
A phenomenon known as container rain is a significant culprit when it comes to moisture in shipping containers. Temperature differences between the external air and air inside your shipping container can cause condensation to form inside your container. Over time, it accumulates on the ceilings and walls and begins to “rain” down, onto your goods.
Moisture can come from your goods, too. Perishable items like fruits and vegetables may release moisture during the ripening process. Packaging materials like paper, textures, and even wood may hold onto moisture and release it throughout its journey.
Excess moisture in your shipping container can cause a host of problems, including mold, mildew, damage to packaging and electrical components, and more. Shipping container desiccant is a smart way to prevent mold and moisture damage and protect your products on their journey. It’s particularly effective when combined with other dehumidification methods, like shipping container ventilation and container liners.
It’s vital to pair the right desiccant bags with your shipment to ward off moisture damage. When selecting a desiccant, consider these factors:
There are a few different ways to calculate the amount of shipping container desiccant you’ll need for your journey, but a general rule of thumb is to have 1.2 units of desiccant per cubic foot of air volume in your container.
For protection of your goods throughout their entire journey, trust EPGNA. Our premium container desiccants defend against humidity, container rain, and excess moisture inside your shipping container. From hanging desiccant bags to desiccant blankets, liners, and more, we offer innovative solutions for every shipment. Ensure your goods arrive safely, thanks to EPGNA.
Sandra Malouf is the President of Eurolog Packing Group and has spent her career focused on Industrial Packaging. With a proven track record of helping businesses avoid supply chain disruptions, Sandra’s visionary leadership elevates the industry. She’s committed to developing sustainable practices and continues to shape the future of industrial packaging by listening to the customer and offering unique solutions applicable to various industries across the world. The company’s main focus is temperature stabilization and moisture damage prevention in exports affected by extreme variations in global temperatures.
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