Silicagel – Blue and White

Silica gel is the naturally occurring mineral silicon dioxide that has been purified and processed into a hard, smooth beaded form. It is also known as a narrow, or micro, pore silica gel and has a vast network of interconnecting pores with diameters of 20‐30Å. These pores have a strong affinity for moisture and use physical adsorption and capillary condensation to trap and hold it. Silica gel will remove moisture at temperatures as high as 150°F, but it is best used at room temperature (70‐ 90°F) and high relative humidity (60‐90% RH).

The 10% of the beads that are blue have been saturated with a moisture indicating solution that gives them a deep blue color when dry. The color of these beads change from blue to pink as it adsorbs moisture. When the blue beads have turned to pink, this indicates that the entire mix is saturated. After saturation, the bead has reached the end of its useful life and should be replaced or regenerated.