You’ve likely seen people talk about dry ice foam or pack sheets, but what does that actually mean for your business? Mettre simplement, dry ice foam and dry ice pack sheets are specialty refrigerants designed to keep sensitive products ultra cold without the mess of melting water. They rely on solid carbon dioxide (Co₂) that sublimates from solid to gas at –78.5 °C (–109,3 ° F), absorbing heat and keeping your products frozen. The solid CO₂ pellets or blocks are sealed inside flexible foam or sheet materials, making them easier to handle than loose dry ice pellets. Dans ce guide, you’ll learn how dry ice foam and pack sheets work, how to choose the right option for different shipments, and why paying attention to 2025 trends can save you money and improve sustainability. Along the way we’ll share key data points — like why the global cold chain packaging refrigerants market is projected to grow from USD 1.69 milliards en 2025 to USD 2.92 billion by 2032— and provide practical safety tipsco2meter.com.
Understand the basics: What dry ice foam and pack sheets are and how they differ from traditional ice or gel packs.
Choisissez le bon réfrigérant: Compare dry ice foam, mini sheets and gel packs for different shipment durations using relevant long tail keywords.
Calculate quantities: Learn how much dry ice foam or pack sheet you need based on weight, transit time and insulation.
Stay safe: Implement essential handling and storage practices to protect yourself and your shipments.
Explorer 2025 tendances: Get up to date insights on innovations like smart sensors, sustainable materials and market growth.
Plan your next steps: Find practical advice for building a resilient cold chain and see recommended related articles for deeper exploration.
What Are Dry Ice Foam and Dry Ice Pack Sheets?
Dry ice foam and pack sheets are sealed pouches filled with solid CO₂ pellets or blocks that sublimate at –78.5 °C (–109,3 ° F). Unlike gel packs that freeze around 0 °C and slowly melt, dry ice goes straight from solid to gas, releasing no liquid. That means your parcels stay moisture free and there’s no risk of soggy packaging or water damage. Traditional ice melts at 0 °C and typically lasts only 12–24 hours, making it suitable only for short journeys or products that need simple refrigeration. En revanche, mini dry ice sheets maintain –78.5 °C to –18 °C for 24–48 hours, while larger pack sheets or disposable dry ice packs can last up to 72 hours with proper insulation.
Dry ice foam uses a flexible foam matrix to hold dry ice pellets. The foam adds a layer of insulation, spreading the cold evenly across your product and reducing point contact freezing. Dry ice pack sheets are thin, pliable pouches that can be wrapped around items like vaccines or meat to create uniform cooling. Both options are designed to be quick to activate: you simply take them out of the freezer (or fill them with dry ice pellets if using re fillable versions), pack them with your goods and place them in an insulated container.
Why Choose Dry Ice Foam Over Loose Pellets?
Using loose dry ice pellets is like sprinkling ice cubes into your shipment — it works but can be messy. Dry ice foam encapsulates pellets within a foam structure so they’re less likely to shift or settle during transit. This ensures consistent contact and helps maintain temperature for the full shipping duration. Foam also reduces sublimation rate by providing more surface area for heat absorption, which extends the life of the dry ice. For high value shipments that require ultra low temperatures, dry ice foam provides the reliability of dry ice with the ease of handling found in gel packs. De plus, the foam can be customized into various shapes to fit odd sized products.
| Cooling Technology | Plage de température | Durée typique | Avantage pratique |
| Mini dry ice foam sheet | –78.5 °C to –18 °C | 24–48 h | Ideal for pharmaceuticals or biologics requiring consistent ultra low temperatures; no moisture risk |
| Disposable dry ice pack | –78,5 ° C | Jusqu'à 72 h | Perfect for long distance shipping of frozen meat, seafood or vaccines |
| Pack de gel | 2 ° C - 8 ° C | Jusqu'à 48 h | Keeps produce, dairy or medicines cool without freezing; reusable but may leak |
Conseils pratiques
Use foam sheets for delicate items: If you’re shipping vials or small components, the foam provides cushioning and uniform cold distribution.
Opt for pack sheets for longer transit: Disposable pack sheets typically hold more dry ice and last longer, making them suitable for cross country or international shipments.
Combine with insulation: Always pair dry ice foam or pack sheets with a well insulated container; adding a reflective liner can extend performance by up to 20 %.
Exemple de cas: A biotech firm shipping mRNA vaccines must maintain –70 °C for at least 48 heures. Using mini dry ice foam sheets inside vacuum insulated shippers, they preserved vaccine potency during a 36 hour flight and final mile delivery.
How Do Dry Ice Foam and Pack Sheets Work?
The science is simple: dry ice absorbs heat as it sublimates. Instead of melting like water based ice, glace carbonique (co₂ solide) transitions directly into gas. At atmospheric pressure, this occurs at –78.5 °C. Because there’s no liquid stage, the cooling remains dry, preventing moisture damage. The foam or sheet encasing the dry ice slows the sublimation rate by reducing exposure to warm air, similar to how a thermos keeps beverages hot. As the CO₂ gas escapes, it displaces oxygen in the container, which helps keep microorganisms from growing but also necessitates proper ventilation.
Sublimation Explained in Everyday Terms
Imagine leaving ice cubes on your kitchen counter. They melt into a puddle, then eventually evaporate. Dry ice skips the puddle phase — it’s like watching snow vanish into thin air. During sublimation, the dry ice pulls heat from its surroundings, making the environment colder. This property is what keeps shipments at temperatures that traditional ice or gel packs can’t reach. Cependant, because CO₂ gas is heavier than air, it can accumulate and pose asphyxiation risks in sealed spaces. That’s why storage containers must include ventsco2meter.com.
Key Components of a Dry Ice Pack Sheet System
CO₂ Pellets or Blocks: The core refrigerant material that holds the ultra cold temperature.
Foam or Sheet Material: A flexible matrix that holds the dry ice and slows sublimation.
Barrière d'humidité: An outer film that prevents condensation or leaks, keeping your packages dry.
Insulated Container: Boxes or liners made of EPP, VIP or foam that minimize external heat transfer.
Ventilation Channels: Small holes or breathable membranes that allow CO₂ gas to escape safely.
By understanding each component, you can tailor your packout to ensure the best performance for your specific goods.
How to Use Dry Ice Foam and Pack Sheets for Shipping
Determine your cooling requirements. A simple starting point is the 1:1 règle: for every kilogram of product weight, allocate roughly one kilogram of dry ice, adjusting for ambient temperature and insulation quality. This provides enough cooling for 24 heures. For longer routes, increase the ratio or add additional layers of insulation.
Step by Step Use Guide
Identify product requirements: Sensitive items like vaccines or frozen seafood require strict temperature ranges. Consider regulatory guidelines, Par exemple, some biologics must be kept below –70 °C.
Calculer la quantité de glace carbonique: Utiliser le 1:1 ratio as a baseline and adjust for variables (saison, destination climate and transit time). Pour un 24 kg shipment in summer, you might need 30 kg of dry ice foam or pack sheets.
Select the right format: Choose mini foam sheets for pharmaceuticals or small shipments; pick larger pack sheets for bulk items or longer duration shipments.
Layer properly: Place dry ice foam or pack sheets above or around your products. A top placement cools from above, while surrounding placement provides even cooling. Hybrid configurations combine both for maximum duration.
Seal and insulate: Use high quality insulated boxes or liners. Tape seams to prevent warm air ingress. Add reflective foil or corrugated inserts to improve insulation.
Surveiller la température: Use data loggers or IoT sensors to track temperature throughout transit. Alerts allow you to intervene if there’s a deviation.
Manipuler avec soin: Wear insulated gloves and safety goggles. Use tongs rather than bare hands to place the dry ice foam or pack sheetsco2meter.com.
Real World Application
Meal delivery services often promise frozen meals delivered to your door. By layering mini dry ice foam sheets on top of pre packaged meals and using vacuum insulated containers, they keep food at –20 °C for 24 heures. Pharmaceutical companies rely on the same principle — they use mini dry ice sheets to maintain –78.5 °C for over 48 hours when shipping vaccines globally.
Dry Ice Foam vs. Dry Ice Pack Sheets vs. Packs de gel
Choosing between dry ice foam, pack sheets and gel packs depends on temperature, duration and cost.
Temperature Control and Duration
| Paramètre | Dry Ice Foam Sheets | Feuilles de pack de glace sèche | Packs de gel |
| Plage de température | –78.5 °C to –18 °C | –78,5 ° C (full pack) | 2 ° C - 8 ° C |
| Durée typique | 24–48 heures | Jusqu'à 72 heures | Jusqu'à 48 heures |
| Humidité | Pas d'humidité; sublimates directly | Pas d'humidité | May leak when thawing |
| Réutilisabilité | Often reusable; foam can be refilled | Single use; pratique | Reusable but risk of leaks |
| Mieux pour | Médicaments, biologique, aliments gastronomiques | Bulk frozen meat, fruit de mer, cross country shipping | Produce, laitier, short distance shipments |
Résumé: Dry ice foam is ideal for sensitive pharmaceuticals or perishable foods needing –78.5 °C to –18 °C for up to 48 heures. Pack sheets last longer, making them suitable for extended shipping or international deliveries. Gel packs offer milder temperatures and are better suited for chilled, pas gelé, goods.
How Much Dry Ice Foam or Pack Sheet Do You Need?
Calculate based on weight, transit time and insulation quality. A heavier payload or longer transit requires more dry ice. The general rule of thumb — 1:1 dry ice to product weight for 24 hours — is a starting point. Here’s a quick calculation tool (you can implement this as an interactive widget on your website to improve user engagement):
Enter product weight (kg): Par exemple, 10 kg.
Enter desired transit time (heures): Par exemple, 48 heures.
Select insulation quality: Haut (vacuum insulated), Moyen (mousse), Faible (basic cardboard).
Calculate dry ice required: Multiply the weight by the number of 24 hour segments (48 h = 2 segments) and add 10–20 % more if shipping in summer or through hot regions.
For our example, un 10 kg payload for a 48 hour trip with medium insulation needs roughly 10 kg × 2 = 20 kg of dry ice foam. Ajouter 15 % for summer, totalisation 23 kg. If using pack sheets rated for 72 heures, you could reduce quantity slightly.
Factors that Affect Quantity
Température ambiante: Hot climates accelerate sublimation. For summer shipments add 10–20 % plus de glace sèche.
Insulation type: Vacuum insulated panels (VIP) require less dry ice than standard foam due to their superior thermal resistance.
Shipping mode: Air freight has lower temperature fluctuations than ground transport, but may involve longer transit times.
Product thermal mass: Frozen meat absorbs more heat than a small vial of vaccine, so heavier products need more dry ice.
Safety Tips for Handling Dry Ice Foam and Pack Sheets
Dry ice is safe when handled correctly, but failure to follow precautions can lead to cold burns, asphyxiation or even explosion. Always wear insulated gloves and goggles when handling dry iceco2meter.com. Even brief skin contact can cause frostbite or cold burns, as dry ice temperature is around –78 °Cco2meter.com. Use tongs rather than bare hands to move dry ice foam or pack sheets.
Essential Safety Practices
Utiliser un équipement de protection: Gloves and safety goggles are essentialco2meter.com.
Handle in well ventilated areas: CO₂ gas can build up and displace oxygen, so always work in areas with good airflowco2meter.com. Avoid storing or opening dry ice containers in closed rooms.
Store in ventilated containers: Use containers that allow CO₂ gas to escape. Never seal dry ice in airtight freezers or coolers; pressure buildup can cause ruptureco2meter.com.
Use proper packaging for transport: Insulated containers designed for dry ice should include vents or pressure relief featuresco2meter.com.
Do not store in unventilated spaces: Avoid keeping dry ice in closets, refrigerators or vehicles without ventilation. Gas buildup increases the risk of asphyxiationco2meter.com.
Manipuler avec soin: Avoid dropping or crushing dry ice; sudden shocks can cause rapid gas release and pressure spikesco2meter.com.
Do not ingest: Dry ice should never be eaten or placed in drinks; it can cause internal injuries due to extreme cold.
Label containers: Clearly mark packages containing dry ice to warn handlers of potential hazards and indicate proper handlingco2meter.com.
Educate personnel: Train staff on proper procedures, emergency response and the hazards of CO₂ exposure.
Éliminer en toute sécurité: Allow dry ice to sublime in an open, well ventilated area. Never discard in sinks, toilets or trash bins where trapped gas could build pressureco2meter.com.
Why Ventilation Matters
Because dry ice sublimates into CO₂, proper ventilation prevents gas buildup. Exposure to high concentrations of CO₂ can cause headaches, dizziness or even loss of consciousnessco2meter.com. When using dry ice foam or pack sheets, ensure that the shipping container has gas vents and inform recipients to open packages in well ventilated spaces.
Practical tip: Include a safety card in every shipment explaining how to handle the dry ice foam or pack sheet upon arrival, including wearing gloves and allowing sublimation outdoors.
2025 Market Trends and Innovations
The cold chain industry is booming. Le global cold chain packaging refrigerants market — which includes gel packs, foam bricks and dry ice products — was valued at USD 1.57 milliards en 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 1.69 milliards en 2025, atteinte USD 2.92 milliards 2032 with a compound annual growth rate (TCAC) de 8.14 %. Europe dominated the market with a 31.85 % share in 2024, while North America and Asia Pacific continue to drive growth through investments in pharmaceutical and food logistics.
Entre-temps, le Dry Ice Shipping Systems for Frozen Food market atteint USD 1.42 milliards en 2024 and is forecast to expand at a CAGR of 7.8 % depuis 2025 à 2033, atteinte USD 2.79 milliards 2033. The surge is attributed to online food delivery, globalization of food supply chains and increasing demand for frozen ready to eat meals. Regions like North America lead due to developed infrastructure and e commerce adoption, while Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region.
Technology and Sustainability Trends
Smart temperature monitoring: IoT sensors send real time alerts when temperature deviates, allowing proactive intervention. Data loggers integrated into foam or pack sheets verify compliance during transit.
Emballage durable: Manufacturers are developing recyclable thermal shippers that maintain temperature for 72 + hours and gel packs using biodegradable materials. Dry ice production often repurposes CO₂ captured from industrial processes, supporting circular economy initiatives.
Blockchain transparency: Distributed ledger technology improves traceability and accountability across the supply chain. This helps verify product temperature history and authenticity.
Hybrid refrigeration: Electric and hybrid transport units reduce reliance on diesel and lower emissions. They often integrate dry ice foam or pack sheets for backup cooling.
Ready to use kits: Pre assembled thermal kits simplify training and reduce packing errors, making it easier for new staff to maintain consistent packouts.
Market Insight and Consumer Preferences
Consumers increasingly value sustainability. Businesses are therefore balancing performance with eco friendly materials and exploring carbon neutral strategies like CO₂ capture. Matériaux à changement de phase (PCMS) and vacuum insulated panels provide precise temperature control while reducing total dry ice requirements. Meal delivery services leverage mini dry ice sheets to keep frozen meals at –20 °C for 24 heures, while pharmaceutical companies rely on mini sheets to maintain –78.5 °C for more than 48 heures.
Questions fréquemment posées
Q1: How long do dry ice foam sheets last in transit?
Most dry ice foam sheets maintain –78.5 °C to –18 °C for 24–48 hours, while larger disposable pack sheets can extend to 72 hours when combined with quality insulation. Always calculate based on weight and transit time.
Q2: Can dry ice foam be used with pharmaceuticals?
Oui. Mini dry ice foam sheets provide consistent ultra low temperatures ideal for vaccines requiring –70 °C. Use data loggers to verify temperature and comply with regulations.
Q3: Do dry ice foam or pack sheets make packages wet?
Non. Dry ice sublimates directly to carbon dioxide gas, ne laissant aucun résidu liquide. This makes it safer for electronics and moisture sensitive goods.
Q4: Is dry ice foam safe for home delivery?
Dry ice is safe when handled properly. Provide recipients with instructions: porter des gants, open packages outdoors and allow the dry ice to vent before disposal.
Q5: How can I reduce the environmental impact of using dry ice?
Opt for dry ice produced from recycled CO₂ and use only the amount needed. Reuse or recycle packaging materials and consider hybrid solutions combining dry ice with reusable gel packs.
Q6: Can I make my own dry ice pack sheets?
DIY dry ice packs are possible but not recommended for critical shipments. Improper sealing or venting can cause hazards. It’s safer to purchase tested and certified products.
Q7: What is the difference between dry ice foam and foam bricks?
Foam bricks are reusable refrigeration blocks that freeze at around –20 °C. They are suitable for chilled goods but not as cold as dry ice foam, which reaches –78.5 °C. Foam bricks are heavier but safer for home use.
Résumé et recommandations
Principaux à retenir: Dry ice foam and pack sheets offer unparalleled cooling performance for shipping sensitive goods. They maintain –78.5 °C to –18 °C for 24–72 hours, ensuring pharmaceuticals, frozen foods and biologics remain potent. UN 1:1 dry ice to product weight ratio provides a starting point for calculating quantity. Always pair dry ice foam or pack sheets with high quality insulation and temperature monitoring. Follow safety guidelines: porter un équipement de protection, use ventilated containers and dispose of dry ice safelyco2meter.com. Innovations such as IoT monitoring, sustainable materials and hybrid refrigeration are shaping the cold chain industry.
Plan d'action: Assess your shipment requirements and choose the appropriate dry ice format. Calculate the required quantity based on weight and duration, adding extra for hot climates. Invest in quality insulation, temperature data loggers and training for your team. Restez informé sur 2025 trends — sustainable packaging and smart sensors can improve performance while reducing costs. Ready to upgrade your cold chain? Contact Tempk for customized solutions tailored to your needs.
À propos du tempk
À Rotation, we specialize in high performance temperature control solutions. Our dry ice foam and mini pack sheets maintain –78.5 °C cooling performance while offering moisture free operation. We also provide insulated packaging, IoT monitoring tools and custom hybrids to suit your specific needs. Our commitment to innovation, sustainability and regulatory compliance ensures your shipments reach their destination safely. To optimize your cold chain and stay ahead of 2025 tendances, consult our team of experts.
