What are desiccants?
Whether food, textiles or sensitive electronics – moisture poses a significant risk during the transport and storage of your goods. A desiccant is a substance that absorbs moisture from the ambient air to protect products from moisture-related damage such as corrosion, mould or oxidation. Desiccants are used in packaging, during transport and in industrial processes. They maintain the quality of your products even over long transport routes and provide reliable protection against climatic fluctuations.
How do desiccants work?
Desiccants work either physically or chemically.
With physically acting desiccants, the absorbed moisture is bound to the surface of the desiccant (adsorption). This does not cause any loss of shape, but the desiccant bag increases in weight. Some physical desiccants can be regenerated and reused.
In chemically active desiccants, the absorbed moisture is bound by a chemical reaction inside the desiccant (absorption). This changes the shape and can more than double the volume. When combined with starch, the material becomes a gel-like mass.
Which desiccant do you need? Let's find out together!
Types of desiccants and areas of application at a glance
| Desiccant Type | Working Principle | Typical Characteristics | Areas of Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activated Clay (Bentonite) | Physical | Cost-effective, environmentally friendly, standard pouches according to DIN 55473, suitable for global transport routes and long-term storage | Industrial packaging: Agricultural and food raw materials, metal and mechanical engineering, textiles, wood and paper products, pharmaceuticals |
| Silica Gel (Silica) | Physical | High capacity, with or without colour indicator (e.g. orange gel, ruby gel), compact | Small packaging: Pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, food, electronics, medical devices |
| Molecular Sieve | Physical | Fast and precise, effective even at low humidity, can also absorb gases | Technical applications: Electronics, optics, high-frequency technology, aerospace |
| Salt Granulate (Calcium Chloride) | Chemical | Very high moisture absorption, ideal for overseas transport and long-term storage | Secondary packaging: Export industry, freight and storage containers |
Container Desiccants
Under the Cargosorb brand, we offer container desiccants designed for extreme moisture exposure. They consist of a mixture of calcium chloride and starch. They extract moisture from the surrounding air and convert it into a gel – without dripping or leaking of the bound liquid. This ensures reliable protection of your goods against corrosion, fermentation, mould growth, swelling of packaging and the detachment of labels – even during container shipments lasting several weeks.
The desiccant bags are easily attached to the container wall as a chain or bar, providing a large effective surface area for fast and efficient absorption.
Your benefits
- Reduces ambient humidity
- Prevents moisture damage
- Precisely designed to fit container corrugations
- Effortless, rapid installation
- Protection in corrosion-critical transport processes
Our container desiccants not only provide optimal protection for your goods as they travel through different climate zones – they also stand out for their ergonomic design and exceptionally easy handling. This makes their use comfortable, time-saving and efficient for you.
Daniel Büchner, Product Manager Desiccants – Knüppel Verpackung GmbH & Co. KG
DIN Desiccants
Bentonite is frequently used in primary packaging as desiccant bags according to DIN 55473. Baleso desiccant bags made of tear-resistant, low-dust or dust-free non-woven fabric protect your packaged goods against damage caused by condensation during transport and storage. The required amount of desiccant is calculated in accordance with DIN 55474.
Your Benefits
- Supports corrosion protection under high climatic stress
- Easy to handle and ready for immediate use
- Free from chemical additives, 100% natural product
- Classified as non-hazardous according to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008
- Simple quantity calculation using the desiccant calculator (in accordance with DIN 55474)
Many products are equipped with a color indicator that shows whether the material is already saturated. A color change signals when the desiccant should be replaced.
Our Baleso DIN desiccants each contain a moisture indicator. This way, you can see at a glance whether the desiccant is still active.
With Cargosorb container desiccants, the waterproof, transparent PE film on the back allows for a simple visual check of the granulate’s activity status.
The duration of effectiveness depends on the quantity used, relative humidity, temperature, and the application environment. Our Cargosorb container desiccants are designed to provide protection for several weeks, even inside sea containers.
To ensure the right desiccant type and correct amount for the desired transport or storage period, we recommend professional consultation with our packaging experts.
DIN desiccant bags that are no longer active can be disposed of with household waste. Container desiccants must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
