Thursday 23 January 2014

The small packet of silica gel white that comes in almost every packaging nowadays has many advantages. They are mainly responsible for the absorption of moisture and are kept in small packets. These are granular substances that are made from a chemical substance called silicon silicate. These are made basically by synthetic processes. The end result is translucent, hard granules.
These are basically silica gel that is amorphous and is made into irregular granules that look like beads. These beads have micro-porous structure that has interlocking cavity that results in high surface area. Low vapor density is responsible for the fact that water is able to stay on the surface of the beads. The process of adsorption by these beads gets stopped when the state of equilibrium is attained. This state is basically attained when the vapor pressure of the surface and the surroundings gets equal. The process of removal of humidity from the surroundings by the desiccants is known as desiccant dehumidification.
These are used in the industries where excess moisture can cause damage to the goods. The most basic use is for the drying and cleaning of the air and gases. These beads find great use in any kind of a dehumidification process. Silica Gel Beads are also used in the drying of analytical sample as they don’t participate in any type of a chemical reaction. They are also used to protect the sensitive optical instruments and lenses from damage caused due to humidity. The best thing about these beads is that even though they are slightly acidic in nature, then also they are not toxic and can be used even in the packaging of food. These crystals are also used in the drying of flowers. When kept in a closed container with the flowers, they dry up the flower in 2 to 6 days and effectively preserve its beauty.

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