What is inside a gel pack or cooling element?
What is inside a cooling element? A plastic housing of PE (polyethylene) with a gel filling, which gives off no meltwater when it thaws. The gel is non-toxic. Below you will read what is inside a cooling element or gel pack and what we can say about safety next to food.
What is inside a cooling element? And what is inside a gel pack?
A cooling element and an ice pack are related in design: a closed housing with a special gel inside. The difference lies in the housing. A cooling element has a rigid plastic housing and is meant to be reused hundreds of times. An ice pack, also called a gel pack or cool pack, is a flexible foil bag of PE material. Cooling elements come in 200, 400 and 750 g, ice packs in several weights up to 1,000 g.
What we can say about the ice packs and the cooling elements is in this overview:
| Component | What it does |
|---|---|
| PE housing | Keeps the gel in; sturdy and leak-proof |
| Gel filling | Holds the cold and stays solid when it thaws |
| Closed design | No meltwater, so dry products |
We do not state the exact composition of the gel here. For questions about the contents of a cooling element, you can contact one of our specialists.
Is a gel pack toxic?
The gel is non-toxic and safe in direct contact with food. Even if a pack is damaged, the gel stays inside the packaging. The difference from ice: no meltwater gets onto your product.
Why the gel stays inside
The gel stays solid, even when it thaws. That is due to the closed design of the housing. Unlike ice, a pack therefore does not melt into loose water. That is also why it is used where meltwater is unwanted, for example with fish, meat and medicines, and in air freight. The cooling elements are leak-proof, food-safe and suitable for pharmaceutical use.
Gel ice packs next to food
The gel is non-toxic and safe in direct contact with food. Combine packs with an EPS box or an insulated bag for a complete cold packaging solution.
You can read more about the practice of shipping food refrigerated in shipping food refrigerated. For freezing and placing the packs, see freezing and packing ice packs. You can find more about the gel packs themselves under ice packs and in the cooling elements collection. You can read the difference from a rigid cooling element in rigid cooling element or gel pack.
Cooling elements: sizes and data
The rigid cooling elements come in three weights. According to the product data they are all made of PE (polyethylene), blue, and supplied per master carton.
| Cooling element | Dimensions | Per master carton | Per pallet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 g | 150 x 80 x 20 mm | 48 pcs | 3,888 pcs |
| 400 g | 160 x 95 x 30 mm | 20 pcs | 1,920 pcs |
| 750 g | 200 x 105 x 40 mm | 16 pcs | 960 pcs |
The product description mentions a durable gel filling. The cooling elements do not melt and do not leak water, and according to the description they are suitable for air transport.
Ice packs: sizes and data
The flexible ice packs are white and made of PE. The product description calls them sturdy, leak-proof and suitable for refrigerated or deep-frozen shipping. For the 400 g it states that the thick PE material withstands pressure and movement.
| Ice pack | Size | Per master carton | Per pallet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 g | 120 x 150 mm | 80 pcs | 3,200 pcs |
| 300 g | 120 x 180 mm | 60 pcs | 2,400 pcs |
| 400 g | 120 x 210 mm | 40 pcs | 1,600 pcs |
| 500 g | 120 x 220 mm | 35 pcs | 1,400 pcs |
| 600 g | 120 x 240 mm | 30 pcs | 1,200 pcs |
| 1,000 g | 150 x 275 mm | 18 pcs | 720 pcs |
Ice pack sheets: the gel forms after soaking
The ice pack sheets are built differently. They are supplied flat and empty. According to the product description, you soak the sheet in water for 5 to 10 minutes, after which the cells swell into a firm gel mat. The sheet is then frozen. It can be used from minus 5 to minus 80 °C, stays flexible even when frozen and can be torn off along the perforation. The description calls the sheets leak-proof and food-safe.
| Sheet | Size | Cells | Per box |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 x 3 cells | 140 x 200 mm | 6 | 2,000 pcs |
| 3 x 4 cells | 200 x 280 mm | 12 | 1,000 pcs |
| 2 x 6 cells | 140 x 400 mm | 12 | 1,000 pcs |
| 4 x 6 cells | 280 x 400 mm | 24 | 500 pcs |
PCM pack: a different coolant
A 400 g PCM pack has a PE housing, measures 120 x 210 mm and is supplied 40 pcs to a box, 1,600 pcs per pallet. The difference from a gel pack is in the product description: a PCM pack gives off a constant temperature of minus 18 °C, a gel pack 0 °C.
Where the packs are used according to the product data
The collection text mentions the use of the ice packs per sector.
- Food industry: meat, dairy, fish and ready-made meals, also meal boxes and food parcels.
- Medical industry: vaccines, insulin and blood samples.
- Fishing: as an alternative to loose ice, especially where meltwater is unwanted.
- Recreational use: picnics, camping trips and days at the beach, together with a cooler box.
Frequently asked questions about the contents of cooling elements
Is the gel safe in direct contact with food?
The gel is non-toxic and safe in direct contact with food. Even when damaged, the gel stays in the packaging.
Does an ice pack give off meltwater?
No. The gel stays solid, even when it thaws.
What is the difference between a cooling element and an ice pack?
A cooling element has a rigid plastic housing and can be reused hundreds of times. An ice pack is a flexible foil bag of PE.
What material is an ice pack made of?
The product data lists PE (polyethylene) as the material of the ice packs, the cooling elements and the PCM pack.
Are cooling elements suitable for air transport?
Yes. The product description of the cooling elements states that they do not melt and do not leak water, and are therefore suitable for air transport.
How does the gel get into an ice pack sheet?
The sheets arrive flat and empty. After soaking in water for 5 to 10 minutes, the cells swell into a firm gel mat.
Want to know more about what is inside a cooling element? Take a look at what is inside a cooling element in our collection, or contact us about your application.
You will find all names for this product in our glossary.
