X-Corrode Humidisorb & Humidisorb Plus sachets protect parts inside an enclosure from the effects of relative humidity and corrosion.
How do they work and what is relative humidity?
The relative humidity of air is the amount of water vapour in the air in relation to the maximum capacity it can hold. For example, a relative humidity of 50% means that the air contains 50% of the water vapor it could hold at a given temperature.
How can relative humidity change in a suitcase or case?
The relative humidity level can change constantly and drastically due to several factors such as:
- the region of the world where the case is located
- temperature changes
- proximity to sources of humidity, such as lakes or coastal environments. Portable cases can also be influenced by other factors causing rapid changes in relative humidity, as they are transported from outside to inside, from buildings to cars or planes....
Relative humidity conditions
The rate of corrosion in electronic components is considerably increased when they are exposed to high relative humidity conditions. If relative humidity approaches 90-100%, the equivalent of several months' corrosion (with lower relative humidity) can occur in a very short space of time.
Conversely, electricity can cause electronic components to malfunction in extremely dry conditions. Fluctuating relative humidity takes the worst of "too wet" and "too dry" and multiplies them.
Ordinary desiccants and dehumidifiers won't solve these problems.
The aim of ordinary desiccants, such as silica gel, is to bring the relative humidity down to 0%, or "too dry" conditions. This is not a good solution, as a very dry environment can be just as destructive as a humid one.
What's more, ordinary desiccants have a low capacity to absorb moisture (water vapour), even when exposed to very high humidity levels. So they become completely saturated long before they've done their job. These ordinary desiccants reduce relative humidity levels temporarily. Once their capacity is exceeded, they stop working.
The result is that with silica gel desiccants and other dehumidifiers, there is no continuous, effective control of relative humidity. Except for the short period during which the desiccant reduces the relative humidity before becoming saturated, the relative humidity can fluctuate according to ambient conditions.
Humidifiers won't solve these problems.
At best, ordinary humidifiers only work to convert an extremely dry environment into one with fluctuating relative humidity.
When the humidifier is placed in a dry environment, it tries to raise the relative humidity to its own 100% level. As it does so, it dries out. As it dries out, the relative humidity level starts to vary again according to ambient conditions.
The result is that with desiccants and humidifiers, relative humidity is not controlled.
The answer - Humidisorb sachets
Ideally, relative humidity should be maintained at a constant (or near-constant) average level over the long term, without user intervention. This would eliminate conditions that are too wet, too dry or fluctuating.
That's exactly what Humidisorb bags do! When a Humidisorb bag is correctly sized for a cabinet, its unique formulation works to maintain a near-constant relative humidity level without user intervention.
How many sachets per box?
To know how many bags you need for your box, you need to know the volume of the box or case.
It's easy: you can use the calculator available on the A+ Corporation website.
Where to place the bags in the box?
Simply remove the plastic packaging and insert the sachets into the box. It starts working immediately. Ideally, the sachets should be placed where air can circulate around them, but their location is not critical to effective humidity control.
When I open the box, the sachet seems hard.
A change in the consistency of the inside of the bag is one of the most obvious signs that the Humidisorb bag is working for you. Depending on its saturation and where it is in the cycle, its consistency can vary, from a granular consistency to a putty-like appearance or something hard.
Humidisorb sachets are dynamic products that work all the time. Their consistency varies normally as they go through these different aspects.
