
Dessicant film is a type of desiccant technology used to control humidity and moisture levels in various applications. It's a thin, flexible sheet that's highly effective at absorbing moisture.
The film's properties make it ideal for use in packaging, storage, and shipping of sensitive products. Its ability to maintain a consistent humidity level is crucial for preserving the quality of these items.
Dessicant film typically has a moisture absorption capacity of up to 30% of its own weight. This means it can absorb a significant amount of moisture without losing its shape or effectiveness.
The film's technical parameters also include a moisture regain rate of around 10-15% per day. This rate can vary depending on the specific application and environmental conditions.
Types of Desiccant Films
Integrated desiccant films can absorb water vapour, ensuring the contents of the packaging pouch remain at a low humidity level.
This feature prevents the quality of the products from deteriorating during storage and shipment. The film efficiently absorbs moisture quickly after the packaging pouch is sealed.
Even after packing, the moisture absorption capacity continues for approximately three years or more at room temperature.
Regular Aluminum Film

Regular aluminum film is a great option for many applications. It's easy to shade and has a high barrier function, making it perfect for printing. The film also has anti-corrosion and anti-oxidation properties, which help protect sensitive materials.
One of the benefits of regular aluminum film is that it's easy to manufacture in a normal room without humidity control. This makes it a more cost-effective option compared to desiccant film.
You can use regular aluminum film for a variety of products, including normal bags. It's a good choice for applications where a high humidity rate is not required.
Here's a comparison of regular aluminum film and desiccant film:
Molecular Sieve Desiccant
Molecular sieve desiccant film gradually changes from opaque white to semi-transparent white upon moisture absorption.
This type of desiccant film is highly effective at controlling moisture levels in packaging. It can efficiently absorb moisture quickly after the packaging pouch is sealed.
The film's moisture-absorbing pores are uniform and dense, allowing it to evenly absorb water molecules. When laminated with other films, it can effectively reduce moisture content and inhibit oxygen reactions.
This desiccant film can maintain its moisture absorption capacity for approximately three years or more at room temperature.
Desiccant Film Properties

Desiccant film gradually changes from opaque white to semi-transparent white upon moisture absorption. This change is a visible indicator of the film's effectiveness in controlling humidity.
The film can efficiently absorb moisture quickly after the packaging pouch is sealed. In fact, its moisture absorption capacity continues for approximately three years or more at room temperature.
Here are some key technical parameters of a specific desiccant film product, PET12/Alu12/Des80:
The effective sorption coefficient of the film can be calculated using the mass fraction of water in the film, density of the film, and water vapor saturation pressure.
Technical Parameters
Desiccant film is a critical component in various applications, and understanding its technical parameters is essential. Its thickness can range from 105±10 μm to 4.12±0.39 mil.
The grammage of the film is also an important factor, typically measuring 140.0±12.0 g/m² or 4.13±0.35 oz/yd². This affects its overall weight and durability.
Moisture absorption is a key property of desiccant film, with a minimum capacity of 6.0 g/m² or 0.18 oz/yd². This ensures the film can effectively control humidity levels.

The tensile strength of the film is crucial for its durability, with a minimum of 30.0 N/15mm or 11.25 lb/in in both horizontal and vertical directions. This ensures the film can withstand various stresses.
Hot tack strength is another important parameter, requiring a minimum of 6.0 N/15mm or 2.25 lb/in. This measures the film's ability to maintain its bond under heat.
Peel strength is also a critical factor, with a minimum requirement of 4.0 N/15mm or 1.50 lb/in. This ensures the film can be easily removed without causing damage.
The water vapor transmission rate of the film is typically ≤0.05 g/(m²·24h) at 38°C and 90% RH. This prevents moisture from passing through the film, maintaining its effectiveness.
The oxygen transmission rate is also an important parameter, with a minimum requirement of ≤0.5 cm³/(m²·24h·0.1Mpa) at 23±2°C. This helps maintain the film's integrity and prevent degradation.
Here's a summary of the key technical parameters of desiccant film:
Density of Films and Silica Gel Concentration

The density of films and silica gel concentration is a crucial aspect of desiccant film properties. The density of the stripes can be measured using a density measurement kit, and it's essential for calculating the mass fraction of silica gel in the films.
The mass fraction of silica gel, denoted as x, can be determined using Equation (1): x = ρsilica gel × ρpolymer - ρsilica gel × ρblend / ρblend × ρpolymer - ρsilica gel.
For short periods, Equation (1) simplifies to Equation (3), which is useful for quick calculations. However, the results of the measurements showed that the measured densities of the filled films were higher than the expected densities.
This discrepancy can be attributed to the penetration of polymer molecules into the silica gel matrix and the compression of the silica gel by the pressure during extrusion.
Here's a table summarizing the measured and expected densities of films with dispersed silica gel and polyethylene and silica gel:
Note that the measured densities were higher than the expected densities, indicating the presence of polymer molecules in the silica gel matrix.
Effective Diffusion Coefficients by Permeation

Effective Diffusion Coefficients by Permeation Experiments are crucial in understanding how desiccant films absorb moisture. The lag-times for water vapor permeation were experimentally determined, and from these lag times, the effective diffusion coefficients were calculated according to Barrer.
The calculated diffusion coefficients show that the lag time of pure PE-LD films was shorter than that of the films with silica gel. This is because the activity of an absorber, in this case, silica gel, increases the lag time.
The effective diffusion coefficient gets smaller as the silica gel concentration increases, but the film with 0.6 g silica gel/g film had the highest effective diffusion coefficient. This is due to the existence of channels in the polymer matrix.
The effective diffusion coefficients calculated from permeation measurements have a range of variation of a factor between 0.6 to 2.4 in relation to the effective diffusion coefficients obtained from the sorption measurements. This shows that sorption and permeation measurements yield similar results for Deff.

Here is a summary of the effective diffusion coefficients calculated from permeation measurements:
These results show that the diffusion behavior of films with dispersed silica gel can be formally described by the solution-diffusion model.
Moisture Absorption and Control
The moisture absorption capacity of desiccant film is influenced by thickness and composition variations. Under identical environmental conditions (25°C, 40% RH), the moisture absorption capacity of the film increases with thickness.
A 60 μm thick film can absorb ≥ 4.0g /m² of moisture, while an 80 μm thick film can absorb ≥ 6.0g /m². The moisture absorption capacity also increases with RH, with a 60 μm thick film absorbing ≥ 9g/m² at 20% RH.
The film efficiently absorbs moisture quickly after the packaging pouch is sealed, and its moisture absorption capacity continues for approximately three years or more at room temperature. This makes it an ideal solution for industries that require long-term moisture control.

Here's a summary of the moisture absorption capacities of desiccant film at different thicknesses and RH levels:
The desiccant film is suitable for various industries, including food products, pharmaceuticals, and electronic components, and can be incorporated into different packaging processes to provide moisture absorption and control.
Fields of Application
Desiccant film is a versatile solution that can be used in a variety of applications.
The primary component of desiccant film is PE, making it suitable for various film composites such as PET, PA, PP, Alu, Fiber, and more.
This versatility allows for the production of diverse composite films, pouches, and bags.
Desiccant film can be widely employed in the packaging of moisture-sensitive products that require humidity control.
This is especially useful in sectors like pharmaceuticals, health supplements, food, cosmetics, precision electronic instruments, and military industries.
These industries can all benefit from the use of desiccant film to maintain the quality of their products during storage and shipment.
Desiccant Film Performance

Desiccant film is an innovative solution for controlling moisture in packaging. It's coated on an aluminum surface, eliminating the need for extra space and silica gel bags.
One of the key advantages of desiccant film is its ability to keep powder products dry. In fact, it's specifically designed for powder products, unlike traditional desiccant bags which can't be used for this purpose.
Desiccant film also has a strong barrier function, preventing moisture from entering the packaging. This is especially important for products that require high humidity control.
In contrast to traditional desiccant bags, desiccant film absorbs moisture slowly, maintaining its absorption capacity over a longer period. This is a significant advantage in many applications.
Here are some key performance characteristics of desiccant film:
Overall, desiccant film is a reliable and efficient solution for controlling moisture in packaging. Its unique properties make it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications, from powder products to blister packaging.
Desiccant Film Comparison

Desiccant film is a game-changer when it comes to keeping products dry, and it's especially useful for powder products that need to be protected from moisture.
Desiccant film is coated on an aluminum surface, which means it doesn't need extra space like traditional desiccant bags do. This makes it a more efficient option for packaging.
One of the biggest advantages of desiccant film is that it's a 100% substitute for silica gel bags, eliminating the need for extra packaging materials.
Desiccant film is also great for blister products like pills, capsules, and syringes, as it provides a strong barrier function that prevents moisture from entering.
In contrast, traditional desiccant bags can't be used for powder products or blister products, and they require manual insertion or robotic feeding into packaging bags.
Desiccant film is also a more reliable option than traditional desiccant bags, as it doesn't risk breaking and contaminating the product.
Here's a comparison of desiccant film and regular aluminum film:
As you can see, desiccant film has a clear advantage when it comes to desiccant function and manufacturing process.
Calcium Oxide and Silica Gel
The density of silica gel in films can be affected by the penetration of polymer molecules into the silica gel matrix and the compression of the silica gel by pressure during extrusion.
The measured density of a film with 0.6 g silica gel/g film was 1.35 cm/g, which is higher than the density of pure silica gel at 1.24 cm/g.
The difference between the measured and expected density of the film with 0.6 g silica gel/g film is likely due to the penetration of polymer molecules into the silica gel matrix and the compression of the silica gel.
The nominal silica gel concentrations used in this work are 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 g silica gel/g film, as the real silicon oxide concentration in the films could not be calculated due to insufficient data.
The measured densities of the filled films were higher than the expected densities, which suggests that the silica gel was not evenly distributed throughout the film.
Data and Conclusions

Dessicant film is a highly effective tool for controlling humidity in various environments.
It can be used to preserve artifacts and prevent damage from moisture, as seen in the application of dessicant film in museums and galleries.
Dessicant film can also be used to protect sensitive electronics from humidity damage, which is crucial in industries such as aerospace and automotive.
The silica gel used in dessicant film can absorb up to 40% of its weight in moisture, making it an efficient desiccant.
Dessicant film can be reused multiple times by simply regenerating the silica gel through heat treatment.
In some cases, dessicant film can be more cost-effective than other desiccants, such as activated alumina, due to its lower initial cost and longer lifespan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most effective desiccant?
Molecular sieve is the most effective desiccant, renowned for its exceptional ability to remove moisture from even the most saturated materials. Its performance is unmatched, capable of restoring silica gel to its original color.
Sources
- https://wisenano.com/product/flexible-package/wiseflex-aluminum-desiccant-film/
- https://wisesorbent.fr/en/flexible/desiccant-film-2/
- https://streampeak.com.sg/products/food-packaging/food-packaging-film/food-packaging-bags-and-pouches/moisture-absorption-film/
- https://antiteck.com/desiccant-film/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6679128/
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