Conserver les vaccins, biologics and frozen foods at the right temperature can mean the difference between a life saving delivery and a spoiled shipment. Feuilles de glace carbonique flexibles sont légers, moldable packs filled with synthetic gel and dry ice that rapidly freeze to around –78.5 °C. Une fois hydraté, they expand into three centimetre thick pads and provide up to seven times longer cooling than traditional ice. These sheets can be cut to shape and tucked around irregular products, making them ideal for next generation cold chain logistics. In this guide you’ll learn what they are, comment les dimensionner correctement, les meilleures pratiques pour une manipulation sûre et les dernières 2025 innovations shaping ultra cold logistics.
Definition and structure: what makes a flexible dry ice pack sheet different from a gel pack or conventional dry ice.
Sizing and packing: rule of thumb formulas for how much dry ice to use per shipment based on weight and duration.
Comparaisons: when to choose flexible dry ice sheets versus gel packs or PCM solutions, including temperature ranges and regulatory differences.
Sécurité et réglementation: handling precautions, ventilation, and disposal guidelines.
2025 tendances: market dynamics, sustainability initiatives and emerging technologies reshaping the use of flexible dry ice sheets.
What Are Flexible Dry Ice Pack Sheets and How Do They Work?
Feuilles de glace carbonique flexibles are dehydrated gel packs that combine an absorbent sodium polyacrylate copolymer with perforated plastic and non woven textile layers. Each sheet is typically about 29×20 cm and 2 mm thick before activation and weighs about 40 g. When hydrated in warm water for about 15 minutes, the cells absorb water and swell to form a reusable pad weighing roughly 900 g. The sheet shrinks in length and breadth as the thickness increases to around 3 cm. Because the polymer traps water within sealed cells, the sheet becomes flexible when frozen and can be cut to fit different container shapes. Une fois congelé, the gel core freezes into solid CO₂ ice, sublimating from solid to gas at –78.5 °C. This ultra cold sublimation provides continuous, residue free cooling without melting water.
Anatomy of a Flexible Dry Ice Sheet
The typical sheet consists of four layers: two perforated plastic layers on the outside and two non woven textile layers on the inside. These encapsulate the sodium polyacrylate polymer that retains water during hydration. The perforations allow water to enter when the sheet is soaked, and the hydrated polymer expands until it fills each cell. Because the cells are sealed, they don’t leak even when frozen or thawed. After repeated use the cells may dehydrate; simply rehydrating them restores full thickness.
Le dry ice effect occurs during freezing. When the hydrated sheet is placed in a freezer, the water in the cells freezes around dry ice pellets or created carbon dioxide in the gel. As the solid CO₂ sublimates, it absorbs a large amount of heat, maintaining the surrounding temperature far below freezing without leaving any liquid residue. This property makes flexible sheets ideal for shipping frozen seafood, biologics and high value perishables that cannot tolerate warming.
Benefits Over Traditional Ice
| Fonctionnalité | Feuille de glace carbonique flexible | Pack de glace traditionnel | Pourquoi ça compte pour toi |
| Poids de départ | ~40 g before hydration, ~900 g after | Souvent >500 g | Lower shipping weight reduces costs. |
| Thickness after activation | ~3 cm | Varie (often thicker) | Slim profile fits tight spaces. |
| Température de refroidissement | –78.5 °C sublimation for ultra cold** | 0 °C melting point | Maintains deep freeze conditions without water damage. |
| Résidu | Se sublime en gaz CO₂ | Leaves meltwater | Eliminates leaks and soggy packaging. |
| Réutilisabilité | Cells can be rehydrated for multiple uses | Généralement à usage unique | Reduces waste and cost over time. |
Astuces et conseils pratiques
Cut to size: The perforated cells mean you can cut the sheet to wrap around irregularly shaped products without losing material. Always seal cut edges with tape to prevent the gel from escaping.
Hydrate correctly: Soak the sheet in warm water for about 15 minutes, gently scrunching to ensure all cells fill completely. Over hydrating can make cells prone to puncture; remove the sheet when it indents under light pressure.
Pre freeze: For optimum performance, freeze the hydrated sheet at least 24 heures avant d'emballer. This allows the dry ice to form uniformly and reduces sublimation during transit.
Wrap sensitive items: For goods sensitive to extremely low temperatures, place a layer of insulation or gel packs between the dry ice sheet and the product. This prevents over freezing while still leveraging the cold air from sublimation.
Étude de cas: A seafood exporter needed to ship fresh tuna steaks from California to Asia. By cutting flexible dry ice sheets to fit the contours of each insulated box, the company kept the fish frozen for 60 heures en transit. The lightweight sheets reduced overall shipping weight by 20 %, saving on air freight costs, and there was no meltwater to damage packaging.
How to Size and Pack Flexible Dry Ice Sheets for Shipping?
Proper sizing is critical for maintaining target temperatures and avoiding waste. An easy rule of thumb is to base the amount of dry ice on the weight of the payload and the desired transit time. Pour les expéditions de nuit, emballer grossièrement half the weight of your product in dry ice sheets, alors que equal weight will keep products frozen for up to 48 heures. One and a half times the product weight may be necessary for 72 hour journeys. The dry ice should be placed above the payload so that cold air sinks and envelops it.
Rule of Thumb for Dry Ice Quantity
| Poids de la charge utile (lbs) | Glace sèche (lbs) pour <12 HRS | Glace carbonique pendant 24 à 48 heures | Glace carbonique pendant 48 à 72 heures | Implication pratique |
| 10 | 5 | 10 | 15 | Use a half sheet for overnight; double for two days; triple for longer trips. |
| 20 | 10 | 20 | 30 | Double the payload weight ensures frozen conditions up to 48 HRS. |
| 40 | 15 | 25 | 40 | Pour les envois plus importants, layering sheets on the top and bottom helps extend hold time. |
These numbers are guidelines. Actual requirements depend on external temperatures, insulation quality and starting temperature of the goods. Pour minimiser la sublimation:
Préconditionner les conteneurs: Chill insulated boxes before loading. A warm container accelerates sublimation.
Minimize voids: Fill empty space with insulating filler or padding. Void spaces allow warm air pockets, increasing sublimation.
Ventiler correctement: Use boxes designed with venting to allow CO₂ gas to escape. Sealed containers can explode due to pressure build up.
Layer the sheets: Place dry ice sheets on top of the payload, pas en dessous. L'air froid coule, so top layering maintains uniform temperatures.
Packing Tips for Different Scenarios
Small medical shipments (2–5 lb payload): Use one sheet cut to size (half the payload weight) for overnight deliveries. For biologics requiring 48 heures, use one full sheet above and a half sheet below.
Meal kits and frozen foods (10–15 lb): For two day transit, use two full sheets (poids égal). Sandwich the goods with one sheet on top and one bottom to maximize cold retention.
Échantillons biotechnologiques (20 lb+): Pour les expéditions sous 72 heures, use 1.5–2 times the payload weight spread across multiple sheets. Combine with phase change materials or gel packs to reduce supercooling and extend duration.
Exemple du monde réel: A biotechnology company shipping 25 lb of cell culture kits across the U.S. used 30 lb of flexible dry ice sheets placed on top of the payload. They pre chilled containers and filled voids with recyclable foam, réalisation 60 hours of sub zero conditions with only 5 % sublimation loss.
Comparing Flexible Dry Ice Sheets with Gel Packs and PCM Solutions
Choosing the right refrigerant depends on temperature targets, regulatory constraints and shipment duration. Matériaux à changement de phase (PCMS) absorb and release heat at set points (Par exemple, 2–8 °C ou –20 °C) and maintain narrow ranges for pharmaceuticals and vaccines. PCMs are reusable and classified as non hazardous, which reduces shipping restrictions. Glace sèche, d'autre part, se sublime à –78,5 °C, providing ultra cold conditions ideal for frozen biologics and enzymes. Cependant, dry ice requires hazardous materials labeling, venting and adherence to IATA, Réglementations DOT et ONU.
Temperature Range and Use Cases
| Type d'emballage | Plage de températures typique | Meilleurs cas d'utilisation | Considérations clés |
| Feuille de glace carbonique flexible | –78.5 °C during sublimation | Frozen cells, clinical trial specimens, cryo preserved tissues | Très froid; must handle hazardous CO₂ gas; single use but can rehydrate gel for multiple cycles. |
| Packs de gel (à base d'eau) | 2–8 ° C (melting point around 0 °C) | Produits frais, kits de repas, produits pharmaceutiques qui ne doivent pas être congelés | Non dangereux; leaves meltwater; limited duration compared with dry ice. |
| Packs PCM | 2–8 °C or –20 °C engineered setpoints | Vaccins, biologique, réactifs | Réutilisable; stable temperature band; high upfront cost but lower long term waste. |
Durabilité, Coût et durabilité
Gel and PCM packs are generally durable and reusable; they are encased in flexible pouches or rigid panels that resist punctures. Flexible dry ice sheets are re usable for multiple hydration cycles but require new dry ice for each use. PCMs have higher upfront investment but deliver cost savings over multiple shipments and generate less waste. Dry ice sheets have lower initial cost but incur recurring expenses for replenishment and disposal. In sustainability terms, PCMs reduce CO₂ emissions and hazardous waste because they avoid sublimation of carbon dioxide.
Decision Making Framework
When choosing between flexible dry ice sheets, packs de gel ou PCM, considérer:
Température cible: Use dry ice for ultra cold (< –70 °C) shipments such as cell therapy or CRISPR samples. Choose PCMs or gel packs for 2–8 °C or –20 °C products like vaccines, meal kits and fresh produce.
Durée d'expédition: PCMs support shipments up to around 72 heures. Pour des durées plus longues, dry ice or hybrid systems are needed.
Complexité réglementaire: If you wish to simplify compliance, sélectionner les PCM (non dangereux). Use dry ice only if you are comfortable handling hazardous materials and can provide proper labeling.
Objectifs budgétaires et de durabilité: Reusable PCM systems have higher upfront costs but lower lifetime expenses and waste. Dry ice sheets have low cost per use but require frequent replenishment and produce CO₂ emissions.
Conseil: Hybrid solutions combine PCM packs with flexible dry ice sheets. A PCM layer buffers the payload at 2–8 °C while a dry ice sheet on top extends ultra cold life. This reduces total dry ice required and minimizes supercooling risks.
Sécurité, Handling and Regulations
Dry ice is extremely cold and sublimates to carbon dioxide gas, creating both frostbite and asphyxiation hazards. Suivez ces bonnes pratiques:
Utiliser un équipement de protection: Always wear loose fitting, thermally insulated gloves and eye protection when handling dry ice sheets. Use tongs instead of bare hands to prevent frostbite.
Ventilation: Store and transport dry ice in well ventilated areas. CO₂ gas buildup in sealed containers or confined spaces can cause asphyxiation. Do not store dry ice in airtight boxes; ensure there is an outlet for gas release.
Enclose and label: Enclose dry ice sheets within an outer wrapping or bag to avoid direct contact with food. Provide clear instructions to recipients. Forfaits dépassant 5.5 kg (2.5 kg) of dry ice require compliance with US 49 CFR and IATA hazardous materials regulations. Packs froids, en revanche, have no regulatory requirements.
Élimination: Allow unused dry ice to sublimate outdoors or in a well ventilated area. Never dispose of dry ice in sinks or toilets because the extreme cold can damage plumbing. Rehydrate gel sheets for reuse; the polymer itself is typically non hazardous.
Considérations relatives à la durabilité
The dry ice market faces supply constraints because CO₂ consumption is growing faster than production capacity. Consumption has been rising by roughly 5 % par année, alors que l'offre de CO₂ n'a augmenté que 0.5 % annuellement, provoquant des pénuries périodiques et des hausses de prix pouvant aller jusqu'à 300 %. Malgré cela, global demand continues to increase: the dry ice market was valued at USD 1.54 milliards en 2024 et devrait atteindre USD 2.73 milliards 2032, un taux de croissance annuel composé de 7.4 %. To combat shortages and reduce carbon footprints, manufacturers are building more localized production hubs and exploring captage du CO₂ sur site, including using by product CO₂ from bioethanol plants. Shippers are also mixing dry ice with PCMs and improving insulation to stretch each pound of dry ice further.
One promising sustainability pathway is CO₂ biosourcé. Bioethanol plants capture CO₂ released during fermentation and purify it for dry ice production. This creates a circular supply chain and reduces reliance on fossil based CO₂. Cependant, geopolitical and trade pressures can threaten local CO₂ supply; Par exemple, UK producers warn of supply disruptions due to tariff changes. Such issues highlight the need for diversified supply and resilient sourcing strategies.
2025 Trends Shaping Flexible Dry Ice Sheets and Cold Chain Logistics
Market Dynamics and Innovation
The dry ice industry is evolving rapidly in response to supply constraints, rising demand and sustainability pressures. Les principales tendances comprennent:
Localized production and on site CO₂ capture: Companies are building regional production hubs and capturing CO₂ from industrial processes to ensure steady supply.
Systèmes de refroidissement hybrides: Shippers are layering flexible dry ice sheets with PCMs or gel packs to reduce total dry ice usage, manage temperature ranges and extend shipment duration.
Improved insulation and packaging design: Innovations such as vacuum panels, curbside recyclable materials and form fitting containers reduce sublimation losses by 3–8 % per day and allow for smaller dry ice quantities.
Surveillance en temps réel: Internet des objets (IoT) sensors integrated into dry ice containers provide real time data on temperature, taux d'humidité et de CO₂, allowing proactive intervention if anomalies occur. This supports compliance with 21 Partie CFR 11 pour les expéditions pharmaceutiques.
Expéditeurs PCM réutilisables: Dans le secteur pharmaceutique, reusable PCM shippers are gaining traction for less temperature critical medicines, reducing reliance on dry ice while still meeting regulatory requirements.
Format optimization: Format glace carbonique (blocs, boulettes, tranches) affecte considérablement les performances. Large blocks sublimate slowly for longer trips, while pellets provide rapid cooling for short hauls. Thin flexible sheets strike a balance by fitting snugly around payloads and minimizing void space.
AI driven logistics planning: Sophisticated software models evaluate variables such as route length, ambient temperature and insulation quality to recommend the optimal combination of flexible dry ice sheets, PCMs and container types. This minimizes waste and ensures compliance with sustainability targets.
Market Outlook for 2025–2030
The combination of supply constraints and rising demand means prices are likely to remain volatile. Cependant, innovation is easing pressure. Hybrid solutions and better insulation reduce consumption per shipment, while bio based CO₂ sources expand capacity. The growth of e commerce for frozen foods and direct to patient pharmaceuticals will further drive demand for flexible dry ice sheets.
Across sectors, l'accent sera mis sur resilience and sustainability. Food and meat processors are investing in better insulated boxes and optimizing dry ice formats to reduce sublimation. Pharma and biotech companies are balancing ultra cold needs with supercooling risks, often using barrier technologies and reusable PCM systems. Industrial users are locking in long term contracts and investing in local pelletizing capacity. For all stakeholders, flexible dry ice sheets remain a critical tool but will increasingly be complemented by PCMs, IoT monitoring and smarter packaging.
Questions fréquemment posées (FAQ)
Q1: Combien de temps durent les feuilles flexibles de glace carbonique?
When properly hydrated, frozen and packed, flexible dry ice sheets can maintain ultra cold temperatures for 24 à 72 heures, depending on quantity and external conditions. Use half the payload weight for overnight shipments and up to 1.5× for 72 hour deliveries.
Q2: Can flexible dry ice sheets be re used?
Oui. After the dry ice has sublimated, the gel cells can be rehydrated and refrozen for multiple cycles. Cependant, you’ll need a fresh supply of dry ice or a freezer to recharge the sheets.
Q3: How do flexible dry ice sheets compare to gel packs?
Dry ice sheets maintain temperatures around –78.5 °C and don’t produce meltwater, whereas gel packs maintain about 0 °C and may leak. Gel packs are ideal for goods that must not freeze, while dry ice sheets are best for ultra cold shipments.
Q4: Les feuilles de glace carbonique flexibles sont-elles sûres pour le transport aérien?
Oui, but there are strict limits. Envois non médicaux contenant plus de 5.5 kg (2.5 kg) of dry ice require hazardous materials labeling and must comply with 49 CFR et Iata règlements. Packages below this threshold still need ventilation and clear labeling.
Q5: What is the environmental impact of using flexible dry ice sheets?
Traditional dry ice relies on industrial CO₂, which can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions when produced from fossil sources. The market is shifting toward captage du CO₂ d'origine biologique and local production hubs to reduce emissions. Using hybrid systems with PCMs and improved insulation also reduces total dry ice consumption, lowering the carbon footprint.
Résumé et recommandations
Flexible dry ice pack sheets offer a versatile, high performance solution for ultra cold shipping. Leur légèreté, cut to size design, extreme cooling capacity and ability to rehydrate make them a superior alternative to traditional ice packs. To get the most from these sheets:
Follow sizing rules: Pack 0.5–1.5× the payload weight in dry ice sheets depending on duration.
Optimiser l'emballage: Préconditionner les conteneurs, minimiser les vides, vent gas and layer sheets on top of the payload.
Assess alternatives: Pour les expéditions entre 2 et 8 °C, gel or PCM packs may suffice; consider hybrid systems for longer durations or mixed loads.
Prioritize safety and compliance: Portez un équipement de protection, ensure ventilation and label packages when shipping more than 2.5 kg de glace sèche.
Adoptez la durabilité: Support suppliers using bio based CO₂ and invest in reusable PCM systems and improved insulation.
By applying these practices, you’ll reduce costs, protect product integrity and align your cold chain operations with 2025’s regulatory and sustainability expectations.
À propos du tempk
Rotation is a leader in cold chain packaging solutions. We design and manufacture flexible dry ice sheets, phase change materials and insulated containers tailored to pharmaceuticals, biotechnologie, food and industrial customers. Our products combine validated thermal performance avec eco conscious materials, reducing waste and ensuring compliance with global transport regulations.
Nos avantages
Tailored design: We offer customizable sheet sizes and container solutions to meet specific payload dimensions and transit times.
Expert support: Our engineers provide sizing guidance, regulatory compliance assistance and real time monitoring integration to optimize your cold chain workflows.
Durabilité: We partner with suppliers who capture CO₂ from bioethanol and industrial processes, and we continuously invest in recyclable materials and hybrid PCM/dry ice innovations.
Appel à l'action
Ready to revolutionize your cold chain operations? Contacter le tempk to discuss how flexible dry ice pack sheets and hybrid solutions can safeguard your products, reduce costs and meet 2025 objectifs de durabilité. Our team will help you choose the right packaging, calculate required dry ice and implement monitoring tools for total peace of mind.
