The Chemical In Gel Ice Pack Bag: Sodium Polyacrylate

Gel ice pack

Gel ice pack also called cold pack, is the substitute product for the traditional ice bag.

It can be used to:

lower the body’s temperature;

transport the medicine, food, flower;

deal with the emergency hurt pain on sports injuries.

Different from traditional ice bags, gel ice packs have become increasingly popular.

Advantages of Gel Ice Pack

• Soft feel and nice appearance;

• Effectively curb the breeding of bacteria;

• More effective. (Its specific heat is 3-4 times than ice's)

What chemical is in ice packs?

It’s Sodium polyacrylate.

Chemicals used in cold packs, often referred to as chemical cold packs (CCPs), are designed to provide a quick and convenient source of cooling for various applications, including the treatment of hyperthermia and injuries. 

As a type of superabsorbent polymers, sodium polyacrylate can absorb plenty of water and become a gel form.

One-gram sodium polyacrylate can absorb 300-1000 grams of pure water. In other words, it’s enough to contain 1 gram (or less)  sodium polyacrylate for each gel ice pack.

Advantages of Sodium polyacrylate

• high specific heat capacity;

• low cost (for each gel ice pack) ;

• non-toxic & environment friendly;

Other applications of sodium polyacrylate

Except for gel ice pack,  it can be used in every aspect of our life:

• thermal insulation material (ice towels, ice pillows…);

• absorbent material (such as in paper diapers, sanitary napkins, nursing pads…);

• water blocking material (such as inflatable sandbags, waterproof for cable…);

• expanding material (inflatable toy).