Silica gel, clay or calcium chloride?
Three desiccant families, three very different jobs. Which chemistry protects a container for 40 days at sea — and which one belongs inside the product box.
The three families at a glance
| Calcium chloride | Silica gel | Clay (montmorillonite) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorption (of own weight) | up to ~300 % | ~30–40 % | ~20–30 % |
| Strongest at | high humidity, long voyages | in-box protection of goods | moderate climates, standardised export packing |
| Behaviour | binds moisture as gel or brine | reusable after drying, inert | natural, inert, economical |
| Typical format | blankets, poles, bags in the container | sachets inside product packaging | bags per DIN 55473 in export crates |
Which desiccant for which job?
Container level: for ocean voyages of 30–60 days, calcium chloride based desiccants are the standard — they keep absorbing at high humidity long after silica gel and clay have saturated. Inside the box: silica gel protects electronics, instruments and consumer goods within their sales packaging. Export crates: clay desiccants per DIN 55473 remain the workhorse for classic industrial export packing.
Absorpower covers all three levels: WisePower® high-performance desiccant on magnesium chloride basis binds moisture as a solid lump instead of liquid gel, Wisesorb® montmorillonite bags are DIN 55473 certified, and silica gel completes the range for in-box protection.
From 30 days at sea
For voyages of 30 days and more there is rarely a way around calcium or magnesium chloride based container desiccants — silica gel and clay are usually saturated well before arrival.
The right product for every level
From container blankets to DIN 55473 bags: explore the ABSORPOWER product range.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about desiccant types
Which desiccant is best for a long ocean voyage?
For voyages of 30 days and more, desiccants based on calcium or magnesium chloride are the standard: they absorb up to about 300 percent of their own weight and keep working at high humidity when silica gel and clay are long saturated.
Can silica gel be reused?
Yes. Silica gel can be regenerated by drying it at around 120 °C and then reused. That makes it attractive for in-box protection of electronics, instruments and consumer goods.
What is DIN 55473?
DIN 55473 is the German standard for desiccant bags in export packaging. It defines absorption capacity and quality requirements. ABSORPOWER Wisesorb clay desiccant bags are produced and certified according to this standard.