This article is about a sac filled with a coolant. For ice found at sea, see drift ice.
"Cold pack" redirects here. For the cheese, see Cold pack cheese.
An ice pack or gel pack is a portable bag filled with water, refrigerant gel, or liquid, meant to provide cooling. They can be divided into the reusable type, which works as a thermal mass and requires freezing, or the instant type, which cools itself down using chemicals but can only be used once. The instant type is generally limited to medical use as a cold compress to alleviate the pain of minor injuries, while the reusable type is both used as a cold compress and to keep food cool in portable coolers or in insulated shipping containers to keep products cool during transport.[1]
An ice packShipment of vaccine in insulated box with gel packs
To be prepared for use, the pack is first placed in a freezer. Both ice and other non-toxic refrigerants (mostly water) can absorb a considerable amount of heat before they warm above 0 °C (32 °F).`
Ice packs are used in coolers to keep perishable foods (especially meats, dairy products, eggs, etc.) below the 5–75 °C (41–167 °F) danger zone when outside a refrigerator or freezer, and to keep drinks pleasantly cool. The amount of ice needed varies with the amount of food, its initial temperature, the thermal insulation of the cooler, and the ambient temperature and exposure to direct sunlight. Ice initially well below freezing temperature will last a little longer.
Water has a much higher latent heat of fusion than most substances, and a melting temperature which is convenient and easily attained with, for example, a household freezer. Additives to improve the properties of water are often used. For example, substances can be added to prevent bacterial growth in the pack, or to prevent the water from solidifying so it remains a thick gel throughout use.
Hot-or-cold packs are ice packs that are rated for high temperature use. They can be used as a normal reusable ice pack by storing in a freezer, but they can also be heated in water or a microwave oven to reach the desired temperature. The first hot and cold pack was introduced in 1948 with the name Hot-R-Cold-Pak and could be chilled in a refrigerator or heated in hot water.[3] The first reusable hot cold pack that could be heated in boiling water or a microwave oven was first patented[4] in 1973.
Instant ice packsedit
An instant cold pack is a single-use device that consists of two bags; one containing water, inside a bag containing ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate or urea. When the inner bag of water is broken by squeezing the package, it dissolves the solid in an endothermic process. This process absorbs heat from the surroundings, quickly lowering the pack's temperature.[5]
Instant cold packs are a convenient replacement for crushed ice used as first aid on sport injuries or heat illness, and can be carried as first aid to remote or wilderness areas where ice is unavailable. However, they do not provide as much or as long-lasting cooling as ice.[6]
Safety concernsedit
An ice pack with gel leaking out of a hole in the upper left corner
^Marshall Brain (29 November 2006). "Cold Packs". How Refrigerators Work. Howstuffworks.com.
^Smith, Jason E. (2005). "Cooling methods used in the treatment of exertional heat illness". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 39 (8): 503–507. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2004.013466. PMC1725271. PMID 16046331.
^ ab"California Innovations Expands Recall of Freezer Gel Packs Due to Ingestion Hazard". CPSC.gov. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
February 25, 2024
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This article is about a sac filled with a coolant For ice found at sea see drift ice Cold pack redirects here For the cheese see Cold pack cheese An ice pack or gel pack is a portable bag filled with water refrigerant gel or liquid meant to provide cooling They can be divided into the reusable type which works as a thermal mass and requires freezing or the instant type which cools itself down using chemicals but can only be used once The instant type is generally limited to medical use as a cold compress to alleviate the pain of minor injuries while the reusable type is both used as a cold compress and to keep food cool in portable coolers or in insulated shipping containers to keep products cool during transport 1 An ice packShipment of vaccine in insulated box with gel packs Contents 1 Reusable packs 1 1 Hot or cold packs 2 Instant ice packs 3 Safety concerns 4 See also 5 ReferencesReusable packs editTo be prepared for use the pack is first placed in a freezer Both ice and other non toxic refrigerants mostly water can absorb a considerable amount of heat before they warm above 0 C 32 F Ice packs are used in coolers to keep perishable foods especially meats dairy products eggs etc below the 5 75 C 41 167 F danger zone when outside a refrigerator or freezer and to keep drinks pleasantly cool The amount of ice needed varies with the amount of food its initial temperature the thermal insulation of the cooler and the ambient temperature and exposure to direct sunlight Ice initially well below freezing temperature will last a little longer Water has a much higher latent heat of fusion than most substances and a melting temperature which is convenient and easily attained with for example a household freezer Additives to improve the properties of water are often used For example substances can be added to prevent bacterial growth in the pack or to prevent the water from solidifying so it remains a thick gel throughout use Gel packs are often made of non toxic materials that will remain a slow flowing gel and therefore will not spill easily or cause contamination if the container breaks Gel packs may be made by adding hydroxyethyl cellulose 2 sodium polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer or vinyl coated silica gel Hot or cold packs edit Hot or cold packs are ice packs that are rated for high temperature use They can be used as a normal reusable ice pack by storing in a freezer but they can also be heated in water or a microwave oven to reach the desired temperature The first hot and cold pack was introduced in 1948 with the name Hot R Cold Pak and could be chilled in a refrigerator or heated in hot water 3 The first reusable hot cold pack that could be heated in boiling water or a microwave oven was first patented 4 in 1973 Instant ice packs editAn instant cold pack is a single use device that consists of two bags one containing water inside a bag containing ammonium nitrate calcium ammonium nitrate or urea When the inner bag of water is broken by squeezing the package it dissolves the solid in an endothermic process This process absorbs heat from the surroundings quickly lowering the pack s temperature 5 Instant cold packs are a convenient replacement for crushed ice used as first aid on sport injuries or heat illness and can be carried as first aid to remote or wilderness areas where ice is unavailable However they do not provide as much or as long lasting cooling as ice 6 Safety concerns edit nbsp An ice pack with gel leaking out of a hole in the upper left cornerGel packs have been made with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol Both can cause illness if ingested in large amounts 7 making them unsuitable for use with food The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled such packs 7 See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ice packs Cryotherapy Hot pack Hand warmer Hilotherapy Phase change material Enthalpy of fusionReferences edit Singh S P Burgess Singh 2008 Performance Comparison of Thermal Insulated Packaging Boxes Bags and Refrigerants for Single parcel Shipments Packaging Technology and Science 21 25 35 doi 10 1002 pts 773 S2CID 14036303 Retrieved 9 Oct 2018 Versa Pac Reusable Heavy Duty Cold Pack PDF Unipatch Material Safety Data Sheet Tyco February 2004 Archived from the original PDF on December 30 2006 Retrieved 2009 06 01 To Warm or Cool You Popular Science August 1948 p 138 Nortech Labs History Patent of Reusable Hot Cold Pack Dec 25 1973 Patent No 3 780 537 Nortech Labs History http www nortechlabs com nortech history html Marshall Brain 29 November 2006 Cold Packs How Refrigerators Work Howstuffworks com Smith Jason E 2005 Cooling methods used in the treatment of exertional heat illness British Journal of Sports Medicine 39 8 503 507 doi 10 1136 bjsm 2004 013466 PMC 1725271 PMID 16046331 a b California Innovations Expands Recall of Freezer Gel Packs Due to Ingestion Hazard CPSC gov Retrieved 2014 08 06 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ice pack amp 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