Friday, 20 December 2013

Other Uses and Applications

Heating Pads:

Hot ice is generally found in heating pads. Small amounts of sodium acetate are positioned inside small pouches which contain a metal disc. When the user is in need of warmth, they will simply need to click on the metal disc inside the pouch which will then trigger the release of a few crystals of sodium acetate.

The sodium acetate liquid will immediately turn to its solid state and since the sodium acetate freezes at 54 degrees Celsius, the solid ice returns to the same temperature giving out heat.

Various types of hand warmers use permanent reactions that produce heat. Sodium acetate pads can be used repeatedly by just simply boiling them in hot water which will return the solid sodium acetate back into a liquid form.

Hand Warmers:

Hand warmers are small and practically disposable packets which are held by hand. They produce heat on demand and when they are shaken they produce heat energy. Depending on the type and source of heat, hand warmers can last about 30 minutes (re-crystallization) to 24 hours max (platinum catalyst).

They are almost as similar as the heat pads but they cannot be reused and they are air activated meaning that the sodium acetate inside the small bag reacts with the air particles in order to generate heat energy out into the surface. 

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