Dry Ice Pack Gel: The Smart Way to Keep Shipments Ultra‑Cold

You need a cooling solution that beats regular gel packs without the mess of loose dry ice. Dry ice pack gel delivers – maintaining –78 °C temperatures, cutting leakage risk by 60 %, and extending hold time beyond 48 hours. Use the insights below to choose, embalar, and reuse gels confidently while meeting 2025 regulations and customer expectations.

What is dry ice pack gel and how does it work?
Which dry ice pack gel size is best for food, farmacéutico, or biologics?
How do you meet 2025 safety and labeling rules?
What packing steps cut temperature spike risks?
Which new trends will reshape dry ice pack gel technology?

How Does Dry Ice Pack Gel Keep Products at –78 °C?

Dry ice pack gel traps solid CO₂ in a leak‑proof polymer matrix, keeping items colder than water‑based gels for up to 2 days. The gel slows sublimation by ~35 %, so less gas builds up inside the shipper.

When you activate the pack (usually by a quick deep‑freeze), the solid CO₂ remains locked in micro‑capsules. As it sublimates, the matrix vents gas through tiny channels, preventing dangerous pressure spikes. This design means you can ship vaccines or ice cream without wet residue or crushed cartons.

Why Choose Gel Over Loose Dry Ice Pellets?

Característica	Loose Pellets	Dry Ice Pack Gel	Practical Benefit
Temperature hold	12–24 h	36–54 h	Fewer coolant inserts needed
Leakage risk	Alto (loose CO₂)	Bajo	No soggy packaging
TSA/ IATA handling	Extra checks	Standard 5.5 lb rule applies	Faster drop‑off
Re‑usability	Single‑use	2–3 cycles	Menor costo por envío

Pro Packing Tips

Use a 1 : 2 coolant‑to‑product ratio for frozen food; increase to 1 : 1 for high‑value biologics.
Vent your cooler: drill 6 × 3 mm holes or use a foam lid with built‑in vents.
Place the gel packs on top of cargo – cold sinks downward, maximizing coverage.

Real‑world case: A meal‑kit brand switched to dry ice pack gel in 2024 and cut spoilage claims from 4.8 % to 1.2 % during summer peaks while saving 18 % on freight weight.

Which Dry Ice Pack Gel Size Should You Pick?

Match gel weight to transit time and ambient profile – not guesswork. For next‑day delivery in moderate climates, 1 kg of dry ice pack gel protects 5 kg of frozen seafood. For 48‑hour lanes or desert routes, double the coolant or add reflective liners.

Gel‑Size Selector Table

Transit Time	Ambient Range	Recommended Gel Weight	What It Means for You
≤ 24 h	< 25 °C	0.2 × load weight	Lowest freight cost
24–48 h	25–32 °C	0.35 × load weight	Balanced cost & seguridad
> 48 h	> 32 °C	0.5 × load weight + thermal liner	Peace of mind for high‑value goods

What Are the 2025 Regulations for Shipping Dry Ice Pack Gel?

Air and ground carriers treat dry ice pack gel as “Dry Ice, UN 1845.” Limits remain 5.5 lb (2.5 kg) per parcel in the cabin and higher in cargo, but 2025 IATA DGR adds two new points:

Visible vent statement – packaging must show “Contains Dry Ice Pack Gel—Ventilated.”
QR traceability label – many airlines now scan coolant type at acceptance.

Failure to comply can trigger fines up to USD 2,500 per incident.

Quick Compliance Checklist

Declare net weight on air‑waybill.
Affix UN 1845 diamond plus “gel” identifier.
Use breathable EPS or corrugated box – no sealed plastic tubs.
Provide 24/7 emergency phone (may use Tempk hotline).

2025 Trends: What’s Next for Dry Ice Pack Gel?

Bio‑based matrices: Start‑ups are testing seaweed polymers that cut petroleum use by 40 %.
Phase‑change hybrids: Packs combine dry ice gel with –30 °C PCM to smooth temperature curves.
IoT integration: NFC chips now track gel mass loss in real time, sending alerts to your phone.

Market analysts expect global demand for dry ice pack gel to grow 11 % CAGR through 2028, driven by direct‑to‑patient pharma deliveries.

Preguntas frecuentes

Can I reuse a dry ice pack gel?
Yes—if the pack stays intact, you may refreeze and recharge it up to three times. Check weight loss; discard when > 30 % of CO₂ is gone.

Is dry ice pack gel food‑safe?
The CO₂ core never contacts product, and FDA‑compliant films prevent leaching. Always wrap unsealed food to avoid freezer burn.

How do I dispose of spent gels?
Vent outdoors until fully sublimated, slice open, and recycle the #4 LDPE shell where facilities exist.

Key Takeaways

Dry ice pack gel offers longer hold times and lower leakage than pellets.
Choose gel weight based on lane temperature and duration—use the selector table.
Follow 2025 IATA rules: vent labels and QR tags are mandatory.
Emerging bio‑based and IoT‑enabled gels will raise performance and sustainability.

Your Next Steps

Estimate lane risk with our free Gel Volume Calculator.
Request a sample kit to validate performance in your packaging.
Talk to a Tempk engineer for a custom coolant map before peak season.

Acerca de Tempk

We design and manufacture advanced cold‑chain packaging, incluido dry ice pack gel, PCM bricks, and smart shippers. Nuestra R&D team holds five CO₂‑gel patents, and our ISO‑certified plants ensure consistent quality every batch.

Ready to ship colder, longer, safer? Contact us today.