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Physical Properties
Silica gel is a white, slightly translucent solid that consists of an irregular tridimensional framework of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms with nanometer-scale voids and pores. The voids are filled with water molecules, which bind to the silica gel by adsorption.
It is widely used as a desiccant. It can adsorb up to 37% of its weight in moisture and release it when heated at 120 degC for extended periods of time.
The main use of silica gel is to control local humidity, preventing spoilage in products that are stored or handled for long periods of time. This includes sachets of pepperoni, vitamin pills, medicines and other products that may be in warehouses or stores for months at a time.
This is done by adding a sachet of silica gel to the product, which will absorb any moisture that may build up and prevent mould growth. It’s also used in communication engineering to keep the relative humidity inside radio transmitters and satellite transmission systems low, to make them work more efficiently.
There are many types of silica gel available, depending on the pore size. Typical pore sizes range from 2.5 nm to 7.0 nm. This allows for a wide variety of applications. For example, some are able to desorb oil and gas in industrial gases while others are waterproof. In addition, there are some that can be regenerated with heat. There are also hybrid gels that can be combined with other materials to achieve specific results.