Information

This is the more advanced page for people who are really interested in learning about Silica Gel. I really hope you leave this page more enlightened than you were when you came.

I really do.

Silica gel is a desiccant. This simply means it can absorb and hold water. It's used in many different items to absorb any excess moisture. In leather an some food products, this can stop mold from growing and reduce spoilage. Condensation tends to damage electronics, so it can be found there as well. It can also be found in pill bottles because any amount of condensation can render the pills useless.

Obviously, Silica Gel isn't actually gel. Basically, it's pourous sand. Silica is made up of SiO2, Silicon Dioxide. That's the same material that's found in Quartz. It's used as a drying and dehumidifying agent and as a catalyst and a catalyst carrier. It's also found in cosmetics, as an anticaking agent.

Although Silica Gel is harmless to use, non-toxic and totally safe, the phrase "Do Not Eat" printed on the packet is for good reason. If consumed in large quantities, it could dry up the liquid every human needs internally, and ultimatly kill you. Therefore, I suggest to stay away from eating this material. Another reason is that some kinds of Silica Gel contain Cobalt Chloride, which is proven to cause cancer. Silica dust can cause Silicosis, and other serious respitory problems. Since Silica Gel absorbs and holds other substances, it's possible it absorbed something harmful that would make it unsafe to eat. Although most of these situations are highly unlikely, I would play it safe and not eat the Silica Gel. The main reason it says "Do Not Eat" on the package, is so the company doesn't get sued. (Ever noticed that hairdryers say "Do not use while asleep?")

Silica Gel has been the favored desiccant of the government and industry since World War II. It prevents rust, corrosion, tarnish, oxidation, mildew, fungus, mold, odor, spoilage, spotting, toning, and stains. Silica Gel is an extremely important substance in the world today, which makes it especially unfortunate that so few people give it the respect it deserves.

More practically, Silica Gel can be used for things around the house as well. As this page describes, it can be used to dry flowers much faster than drying them by air. I've also read that it can be used as a dehumidifyer, but I wouldn't know exactly how to go about setting that up, not to mention how much Silica Gel you'd need. Theoretically, silica gel could be used anywhere, but it really needs an enclosed space to work properly.

Because of it's structure, Silica Gel is known as a "high capacity desiccant". Because it has a lower vapor pressure than air surrounding it, water molocules attatch to it. The gel stops absorbing water when it's pressure is the same as that of the air, therefore, if the humidity of the air around it is higher, the Silica Gel can absorb more water. Because it is so porous, the absorbtion of the water doesn't trigger a chemical reaction, or even change the shape of the crystals. It stays dry to the touch even after soaking in water for days.

Silica Gel absorbs 35% more water than other desiccants, up to a third of its own weight. Heating it up slightly will drive off any absorbed moisture, and leave it open for reuse. It doesn't go bad, and can be stored for long periods of time. Because of these reasons, it's a great choice in the field of desiccants.

The normal type of Silica Gel seen is standard white, and it's reffered to as "non-indicating", meaning it doesn't physically change when it absorbs moisture. It is both cheap and effective. The colored beads are rarer, and referred to as "self indicting". They change color from blue to pink while absorbing moisture, which is useful because you can tell when it's becoming saturated and when it's regenerated and ready for another use.

The packets, or sachets, that Silica Gel comes in, are made special. They're made out of breathable material so the gel can still absorb water through the packet. This makes sense. I mean, obviously, you don't want silica gel all over the place. Water vapor can pass through these packets to be absorbed by the silica gel. Another way Silica Gel comes is in Capsigels. That's simply a hard transparent capsule containing silica gel. The capsules are much like the sachets; they can breathe and absorb moisture. They're made to be used in place of traditional silica gel when the space that the desiccant is needed for is limited.

Congrats, you are now a total expert on Silica Gel! You've made it through the technical page of the most complete Silica Gel site out there. Feel free to print out this certificate and fill it in:


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