If you ship temperature sensitive goods, a bolsa de hielo seco desechable can be a game changer. Unlike ordinary ice or gel packs, these flexible sheets use solid carbon dioxide that sublimates at –78.5 °C, maintaining sub zero temperatures for 24–72 horas without leaving moisture or soggy packaging. The global cold chain refrigerants market is projected to grow from $1.69 mil millones en 2025 a $2.92 mil millones por 2032, while the broader cold chain market may exceed $1.6 billones por 2033. Understanding how disposable dry ice packs work—and their safety, environmental and regulatory aspects—helps you choose the right solution and stay competitive.
How do disposable dry ice packs work, and how are they different from gel packs? We explain sublimation and compare temperature ranges and durations.
How can you size and pack your shipment correctly? Aprende el 1:1 weight ratio rule and how to adjust for seasons, complejidad de la ruta y aislamiento.
What safety and regulatory practices should you follow? We cover venting, protective gear and labeling requirements for UN1845.
How do environmental factors and sustainability influence dry ice shipping? Discover recycled CO₂ production, biodegradable packaging and hybrid solutions.
¿Cuáles son las últimas tendencias e innovaciones en 2025? Explore el monitoreo habilitado para IoT, blockchain traceability and market insights.
How Do Disposable Dry Ice Packs Work and Why Choose Them Over Gel Packs?
Dry ice packs use sublimation to deliver ultra cold temperatures without creating moisture. Each pack encases solid carbon dioxide pellets that turn directly into gas at –78.5 °C. As the dry ice absorbs heat from your shipment, it keeps goods frozen for 24–72 horas dependiendo del tamaño y el aislamiento del paquete. En comparación, gel packs maintain 2–8 °C for up to 48 hours and often leak water as they thaw. Porque el hielo seco se sublima, packages stay dry and there’s no risk of condensation or soggy products.
For shippers of frozen meat, mariscos, vacunas y biológicos, disposable dry ice packs are invaluable. Ellos proporcionan temperaturas ultrabajas—as low as –78,5 ºC—that gel packs cannot achieve. This makes them the preferred choice for long distance shipments or routes through warm climates. While dry ice requires special handling and labeling as a hazardous material, its performance and leak free design deliver reliable, consistent cooling for high value products.
Temperature Range and Duration Comparison
The table below highlights the key differences between common refrigerants. Use it to select the right pack for your shipment.
| Método de enfriamiento | Rango de temperatura | Duración típica | Implicaciones prácticas |
| Mini capa de hielo seco | –78,5 °C a –18 °C | 24–48 H | Ideal para productos farmacéuticos o biológicos que requieren temperaturas ultrabajas constantes; avoids moisture and is suitable for short to medium distances. |
| Paquete de hielo seco desechable | –78,5 ºC | Arriba a 72 h | Perfecto para envíos de carne congelada a larga distancia, mariscos o vacunas; single use convenience and no melting water. |
| Paquete de gel (2–8 ° C) | 2 °C-8 °C | Arriba a 48 h | Mantiene los productos, Los lácteos o medicamentos se enfrían sin congelar.; reusable but may leak water and cannot maintain deep freeze temperatures. |
| Paquete de agua tradicional | ≈0°C | 24–36 horas | Cheap solution for short journeys; riesgo limitado de fuga de humedad y masa térmica. |
Consejos prácticos y recomendaciones
Hidratarse y congelarse adecuadamente: Activate disposable dry ice sheets by hydrating the polymer cells and freezing for at least 24 horas.
Preenfriar sus productos: Freezing or chilling goods before packing reduces the heat load and extends cooling duration.
Utilice sábanas más grandes para viajes más largos: Bigger packs contain more CO₂ and last longer.
Seleccione el diseño correcto: Place dry ice on top of your goods to allow cold air to sink and ensure uniform cooling. Para viajes largos, use hybrid layouts with dry ice around the sides and combine with phase change materials (PCM).
Temperatura de monitor: Emplee registradores de datos o sensores de IoT para rastrear las temperaturas internas y ajustar los números de paquetes en consecuencia.
Ejemplo del mundo real: Una empresa farmacéutica que envía 8 lb of frozen vaccine vials from Los Angeles to Chicago uses an 8 lb disposable dry ice pack and adds 30 % extra dry ice during peak summer. By pre freezing the vials to –20 °C and using a hybrid layout with vacuum insulated panels, the shipment stays below –70 °C for 72 horas.
How to Choose and Size Disposable Dry Ice Packs for Your Shipment
Selecting the right dry ice pack size depends on product weight, tiempo de tránsito, calidad del recorrido y aislamiento. Una simple regla general es una 1:1 Relación entre el peso del hielo seco y el peso del producto. para envíos en 48 horas. If you’re shipping 8 libra de mariscos congelados, empezar con 8 libra de hielo seco. Adjustments are necessary for seasonal temperatures (add 25–35 % more dry ice in summer), complex routes (add 10–15 % for multi hand off lanes) and improved insulation (reduce by 10–25 % when using vacuum panels).
Estrategias de tamaño y diseño
Follow these guidelines to optimize pack performance:
Assess product weight and temperature requirements: Determine how cold your shipment must stay (–70 °C for vaccines, –20 °C for frozen food, 2–8 °C for refrigerated items). Use higher weight ratios for ultra cold shipments.
Consider route complexity and duration: Add extra dry ice when shipping across multiple hubs or when delays are likely.
Upgrade insulation for efficiency: Vacuum insulated panels reduce dry ice requirements by 10–25 %, ahorro de peso y coste. Even simple improvements like foam pads or crumpled paper to fill voids can reduce sublimation.
Utilice paquetes híbridos: Combining dry ice with PCMs buffers temperature fluctuations and extends duration to 72 horas o más. Hybrid layouts place dry ice on top and PCMs around the sides.
Plan for preconditioning: Freeze products below –18 °C and chill packaging materials before assembly. Doing so reduces initial heat loads and lengthens cooling time.
Seguridad, Consideraciones regulatorias y de manejo
El hielo seco es extremadamente frío y está clasificado como material peligroso. (Y 1845), por lo que el manejo adecuado es esencial. Utilice siempre guantes aislantes y protección para los ojos.—direct skin contact can cause frostbite. Porque el hielo seco se sublima en gas dióxido de carbono, never seal it in an airtight container; venting prevents pressure build up and oxygen displacement. Al transportar hielo seco, keep the vehicle well ventilated and avoid enclosed spaces.
Regulatory agencies like the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Estados Unidos. Departamento de Transporte (PUNTO) and national post services have specific guidelines. Packages containing dry ice must display a Class 9 hazard label and indicate the net weight. Airlines often limit dry ice quantities to 5 kg por paquete y requieren la documentación adecuada. Training staff and providing clear handling instructions to customers reduces risks and ensures compliance.
Safe Handling and Storage Tips
Use equipo de protección: Usa guantes gruesos, safety goggles and long sleeves to avoid skin contact.
Proporcionar ventilación: Keep shipping containers vented and never store dry ice in sealed cellars or car trunks.
Etiqueta y documento: Display UN 1845 etiquetas, mark the net weight and provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or safety instructions to recipients.
Responder a la congelación: Si se produce contacto, Retire la ropa que no esté congelada sobre la piel y sumerja el área en agua tibia. (abajo 40 °C) water—do not rub the affected area.
Monitorear los niveles de CO₂: In storage rooms or staging areas, use CO₂ monitors to prevent buildup.
Impacto ambiental y alternativas sostenibles
Dry ice is carbon dioxide in solid form and releases CO₂ gas as it sublimates. This greenhouse gas contributes to climate change if not managed properly. Sin embargo, most industrial dry ice is produced from recycled CO₂ captured during processes like ammonia synthesis and ethanol production. Recycling repurposes waste CO₂ and reduces the need for virgin fossil fuels. To mitigate the environmental impact:
Use dry ice produced from recycled CO₂.
Optimize quantity and packaging: Efficient use reduces the amount of CO₂ released. Using vacuum insulated panels or hybrid packouts cuts the total dry ice required.
Capture and recycle CO₂: Las tecnologías emergentes capturan CO₂ sublimado y lo reutilizan en invernaderos o en la carbonatación de bebidas..
Combine with sustainable materials: Manufacturers are developing recyclable thermal shippers and gel packs with biodegradable polymers. Hybrid solutions using PCMs extend cooling duration and reduce dry ice consumption.
The table below compares dry ice with two greener alternatives.
| Refrigerante | Consideraciones ambientales | Beneficios | Cómo te ayuda esto |
| hielo seco (Co₂) | Producido a partir de CO₂ reciclado; releases gas during sublimation that contributes to greenhouse effect if unmanaged. | Off grid ultra cold cooling; Previene el desperdicio de alimentos y reduce el consumo de electricidad.. | Ideal para envíos que requieren congelación profunda; choose recycled sources and proper ventilation to mitigate impact. |
| Material de cambio de fase (PCM) paquete | PCMs can be engineered with non toxic, conchas reciclablesthermalcustompackaging.com. Reutilizable cientos de veces, reducing waste and long term costthermalcustompackaging.com. | Control preciso de la temperatura; no hazardous handling; easier to comply with regulationsthermalcustompackaging.com. | Adecuado para envíos refrigerados (2–8 °C o –20 °C). High initial cost but cheaper over multiple uses. |
| Paquetes de gel ecológicos | New gel packs use biodegradable, Contenido no tóxico y embalaje reciclable o compostable.. | Reutilizable cientos de veces; la fuerte retención térmica reduce las necesidades de aislamiento. | Good for companies prioritizing sustainability; ofrece ahorros de costos con el tiempo y atrae a consumidores conscientes del medio ambiente. |
Tips to Reduce Environmental Impact
Choose recycled sources: Ask suppliers for dry ice produced from captured CO₂.
Usa solo lo que necesitas: Follow sizing guidelines and adjust for season and route to minimize excess CO₂ release.
Adopt hybrid packouts: Combine dry ice with PCMs or eco friendly gel packs to reduce total dry ice consumption.
Educar a los destinatarios: Provide disposal instructions and encourage reuse of packaging materials.
Sustainability case: A meal kit company replaced single use EPS foam and heavy gel packs with hybrid dry ice/PCM kits packaged in recyclable cardboard. By using only the amount of dry ice needed and selecting biodegradable PCM packs, reducen las emisiones del transporte marítimo en 20 % y recibió comentarios positivos de clientes conscientes del medio ambiente.
Trends and Innovations for 2025 in Cold Chain Logistics
La industria de la cadena de frío está evolucionando rápidamente, driven by e commerce growth, vaccine distribution and consumer demand for sustainability. Tendencias clave para 2025 incluir:
Últimos desarrollos
Monitoreo de temperatura inteligente: Los sensores de IoT proporcionan datos en tiempo real sobre la temperatura, humedad, exposición a la luz y vibración, giving logistics teams comprehensive visibility and allowing proactive intervention. Predictive analytics helps anticipate temperature excursions and prevent spoilage.
Trazabilidad de la cadena de bloques: Decentralized ledgers create transparent, immutable records of every interaction with a shipment. This improves security, simplifies audits and ensures regulatory compliance.
Embalaje sostenible: Los fabricantes están desarrollando contenedores térmicos reciclables que mantienen la temperatura durante 72+ hours and gel packs with biodegradable materials. Circular economy practices repurpose CO₂ from industrial processes to produce dry ice.
Refrigeración híbrida: Las unidades de transporte eléctricas e híbridas reducen la dependencia del diésel y reducen las emisiones. Combining passive refrigeration (hielo seco, PCM) with active systems improves efficiency.
Kits listos para usar: Preassembled thermal kits with pre calculated dry ice and PCMs simplify training and reduce packing errors.
Crecimiento del mercado: The cold chain refrigerants market is expected to grow from $1.69 mil millones en 2025 a $2.92 mil millones por 2032 con una CAGR de 8.14 %. Mientras tanto, the broader cold chain market may exceed $1.6 billones por 2033, underscoring the importance of efficient temperature control solutions.
Conocimiento del mercado y preferencias del consumidor
Los consumidores valoran cada vez más la sostenibilidad y la transparencia. Businesses are balancing performance with eco friendly materials and exploring carbon neutral strategies like CO₂ capture and recycling. Para productos biológicos de alto valor, PCMs and vacuum insulated panels provide precise control while reducing dry ice requirements. Meal delivery services leverage mini dry ice sheets to keep meals at –20 °C for 24 horas, whereas pharmaceutical companies use mini dry ice packs to maintain –78.5 °C for 48+ horas.
Preguntas frecuentes
Q1: How long does a disposable dry ice pack last?
La mayoría de los paquetes desechables mantienen –78,5 °C hasta 72 horas cuando está adecuadamente aislado. La duración depende del tamaño del paquete., Peso del producto y calidad del aislamiento..
Q2: Can disposable dry ice packs be reused?
Sí. Dry ice sheets can be reused multiple times until the textile surface becomes unhygienic. Always inspect for damage and ensure the polymer cells remain intact.
Q3: Is dry ice safe for home delivery?
El hielo seco es seguro si se manipula correctamente. Use guantes aislados, proporcionar ventilación e incluir instrucciones de eliminación. Para destinatarios que no están familiarizados con el hielo seco, los paquetes de gel pueden ser más seguros.
Q4: How can I reduce the environmental impact when using dry ice?
Choose dry ice made from recycled CO₂, Tamaño de los paquetes con cuidado para evitar el exceso., and combine with reusable PCMs or eco friendly gel packs. Consider capturing CO₂ for reuse.
Q5: ¿Qué son las soluciones híbridas de hielo seco y PCM??
Hybrid packouts mix dry ice sheets with phase change materials. El hielo seco ofrece temperaturas ultrafrías, while PCMs buffer fluctuations, extend duration and reduce CO₂ consumption.
Resumen & Recomendaciones
Disposable dry ice packs provide ultra frio, enfriamiento sin humedad a hasta 72 horas, haciéndolos ideales para enviar alimentos congelados, biológicos y vacunas. They outperform gel packs when sub zero temperatures are required and prevent water damage. Sin embargo, they require careful sizing, ventilación adecuada, protective gear and regulatory compliance. Para reducir el impacto ambiental, source dry ice made from recycled CO₂, use hybrid packouts with PCMs, and minimize waste. The cold chain industry’s rapid growth and 2025 innovations—such as IoT monitoring, blockchain and sustainable packaging—offer new opportunities to optimize your logistics.
Consejos prácticos
Evalúe sus necesidades de envío: Determinar el peso del producto, temperatura objetivo y duración del tránsito.
Calcular las necesidades de hielo seco: Comience con un 1:1 Proporción de hielo seco al peso del producto y ajustar según la temporada., ruta y aislamiento.
Choose your packaging setup: Select top, diseños envolventes o híbridos e invertir en aislamiento de calidad.
Implementar monitoreo: Use temperature loggers or IoT sensors to verify performance and react quickly to deviations.
Educate and comply: Capacitar al personal sobre el manejo seguro, label packages correctly and provide clear instructions to recipients.
Explorar opciones sostenibles: Evaluate hybrid solutions with PCMs, use recycled CO₂ sources and consider biodegradable gel packs.
Acerca de Tempk
somos tempk, experts in high performance cold chain solutions. Our disposable dry ice packs and mini sheets maintain –78.5 °C cooling performance while staying moisture free. We also offer insulated packaging, IoT monitoring tools and custom hybrid packouts to suit your specific needs. Con una apuesta por la innovación, sostenibilidad y cumplimiento normativo, we help you deliver temperature sensitive products safely, cost effectively and on time.
Llamado a la acción: Listo para optimizar su cadena fría? Assess your shipping requirements and explore our range of dry ice packs, PCMs and hybrid kits. Contact Tempk’s cold chain specialists for tailored advice and request a sample kit today.
