[meteorite-list] Silica Gel w/out chloride indicator

From: capricorn89 <capricorn89_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:49:01 2004
Message-ID: <001e01c13fec$95e61480$df36b2d1_at_earthlink.net>

Information item: Silica w/out blue chloride indicator

For anyone interested in only small quantities, I offer on my website (as a
service more than anything else) 10 g. bags of silica-gel WITHOUT THE BLUE
INDICATOR as well as the indicator cards. (I believe John Gwilliam does as
well.) Each bag is supposed to protect 91 cu. in. (As John stated, these
can be recharged. I ship them in tight (new) paint cans in which they can
safely be kept until used. In my own experience I have found to get a good
price one has to buy way beyond what may be needed over the short-term, and
there is a shelf life on this product. In a non-100% sealed plastic case,
I have found that a few bags will bring down 60% r.h. to way under 30%. (I
was skeptical until I saw it happen!)

However, for my personal collection, I have used silica with the blue
indicator for over 30 years in a tight display case and have noticed no
problems of any kind. I'm not concerned about a few chlorine atoms jumping
out of the bag and onto my meteorites, but that is my personal choice, so I
can only speak for myself. In respect of other points of view and to cover
all bases, I offer bags without the blue indicator.

Ron Hartman
www.meteorite1.com

----- Original Message -----
From: James Tobin <jimmypaul_at_earthlink.net>
To: <Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 1:57 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Silica Gel Drying


>
> Hi Michael,
>
> I would not personally use the type of silica gel you have described. The
> pink bead are beads with indicator. The indicator is normally cobalt
> chloride, all chlorine compounds are usually treated by meteorite
collectors
> as being bearers of the plague of lawrencite disease.
>
> Non indicator silica gel is very cheap from a wholesale supplier. Often
the
> one near me will just give me a one gallon can since he uses tons
literally
> of the stuff. For finding out the condition of the gel I use humidity
> indicator cards which have blue spots for a range of relative humidities,
> the spots turn pink when that level is reached. The cards are available
from
> many sources including the gel suppliers. But you can get them from
> Dessicare or Humidial Corp. who make them.
>
> Just look in the yellow pages for Desiccant suppliers.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Jim Tobin
> jim_at_meteorite.com
> The Meteorite Exchange
> www.meteorite.com
> PMB #455, Post Office Box 7000
> Redondo Beach, CA 90277-8710 USA
>
>
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Received on Mon 17 Sep 2001 10:49:49 PM PDT