Silica gel, desiccants & VCI
Desiccants help protect goods from unwanted moisture during packaging, storage and transport. By controlling moisture around products, desiccants can help reduce the risk of moisture damage, including problems such as mildew and corrosion.
At Kite Packaging, we supply silica gel desiccants in a range of sachet sizes to suit different products and packaging requirements. Silica gel can be used with items such as electrical goods, clothing and optical equipment where moisture control is important.
We also supply VCI paper, which provides a different form of protection for suitable metal products at risk of rust, tarnish and corrosion.
What Are Desiccants?
Desiccants are materials used to attract and hold moisture from the surrounding air. They are commonly placed inside packaging where controlling humidity can help protect goods during storage or transport.
By reducing unwanted moisture around a product, desiccants can help limit moisture damage and maintain a drier environment. This makes them useful when packaging items that may be affected by humidity, mildew or corrosion.
Desiccants are available in different forms, including small packets and sachets that can be placed alongside packaged goods. The amount required will depend on factors such as the product, packaging and space being protected.
Silica Gel Desiccant Packs and Sachets
Silica gel is a commonly used desiccant for controlling moisture within packaging. At Kite Packaging, we stock silica gel sachets in a range of sizes to suit different product dimensions and packaging requirements.
These desiccant packs can be added to packages containing electrical goods, clothing and optical equipment. By helping to absorb unwanted moisture from the surrounding air, silica gel can reduce the risk of moisture-related problems during transit or storage.
Different sachet sizes make it easier to choose an option suited to the goods being packed. Consider the product and packaging requirements when selecting silica gel desiccants.
How Do Silica Gel Desiccants Control Moisture?
Silica gel is a porous material that attracts and holds water molecules from the surrounding air. This moisture absorption helps maintain a drier environment around packaged goods.
The silica gel remains contained within its sachet while controlling moisture in the surrounding space. This makes silica gel desiccants a simple addition to packaging where unwanted humidity could affect the goods inside.
How Desiccants Help Protect Goods from Moisture Damage
Excess moisture and humidity can affect goods while they are packaged, transported or stored. Desiccants help absorb moisture from the surrounding air, creating a drier environment within the packaging.
Controlling moisture can help reduce the risk of problems such as:
- Corrosion affecting susceptible materials and components
- Mildew developing on suitable materials
- Condensation forming around packaged goods
- Moisture damage affecting the condition or quality of products
The level of moisture present can vary depending on storage and transport conditions. Using suitable desiccants can provide additional moisture protection for products that may be affected by humid conditions.
Desiccants for Packaging and Storage
Desiccants can be placed inside packaging to help control moisture in the confined space around stored goods. Desiccant sachets are particularly useful because they can be added alongside products without taking up significant space.
The right desiccant pack will depend on the goods, their packaging and the amount of space being protected. Different sachet sizes allow businesses to select an option suited to their individual packaging requirements.
Desiccants can be useful for goods kept in storage or transported before reaching customers. Keeping the packaging appropriately closed also helps create a confined environment in which the desiccant can control unwanted moisture around the product.
VCI Paper for Corrosion Protection
VCI paper provides another way to protect suitable goods during storage and transport. VCI stands for Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor, and the paper is primarily designed to protect ferrous metals against rust and tarnish.
Products can be wrapped in VCI paper to help protect metal surfaces without leaving a greasy or waxy residue. This makes it suitable for items such as:
- Metal parts and components
- Engineering products
- Engines
- Drills
- Large iron items
Our VCI paper is supplied in 50gsm rolls, making it suitable for wrapping different metal products. It can help keep suitable goods dry and clean while providing corrosion protection during storage or transit.
Choosing Desiccants or VCI Paper
Silica gel desiccants and VCI paper provide different forms of protection, so the right choice depends on the goods being packed.
Desiccants are designed to control unwanted moisture within packaging. Silica gel sachets can be placed alongside goods where moisture absorption is required, including electrical goods, clothing and optical equipment.
VCI paper is designed specifically for corrosion protection and is primarily used with ferrous metal products. Goods are wrapped in the paper rather than simply placing a sachet within the packaging.
Consider the material being protected and the type of moisture or corrosion risk when choosing between desiccants and VCI paper.
Why Buy Desiccants at Kite Packaging?
At Kite Packaging, we stock silica gel desiccants in different sachet sizes for protecting goods against unwanted moisture during storage and transport. This makes it easier to select desiccant packs suited to different products and packaging requirements.
We also supply 50gsm VCI paper for protecting suitable ferrous metal products against rust and corrosion. Explore our silica gel and VCI paper online or contact us if you need further support.
Desiccants FAQs
Understanding how desiccants work can help you choose suitable moisture protection for your goods. Find answers to some common questions below.
What do desiccants do?
Desiccants attract and hold moisture from the surrounding air. When placed inside suitable packaging, they can help control humidity and reduce the risk of moisture damage during storage or transport.
Where can silica gel sachets be used?
Silica gel sachets can be placed inside packaging containing items such as electrical goods, clothing and optical equipment. Different sachet sizes are available to suit various product and packaging dimensions.
What are shipping container desiccants?
Shipping container desiccants are used to control humidity and moisture inside shipping containers. Calcium chloride is one material commonly used for container desiccants because of its moisture absorption properties. These products differ from the silica gel sachets available on this page, so always choose a desiccant suited to the intended application.
What is VCI paper used for?
VCI paper is primarily designed to protect ferrous metals against rust and tarnish. It can be used to wrap items such as metal parts, engineering products, engines, drills and larger iron goods during storage or transport.