Stocked item: delivered in 1–2 working days in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai; free delivery for orders from VND 20,000,000; defective items exchanged within 7 days. Shipping & return policy
Product code: CS-DESIC · Specification: Silica gel desiccant packs & HIC humidity indicator cards
Silica Gel Desiccant & Humidity Indicator Cards
Common specifications: 5 g, 20 g, HIC.
Delivery: stocked items are delivered in 24–48 hours (Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai); other types in 5 days; stock availability is confirmed in the quotation.
Packing moisture-sensitive devices (MSL 2–6) to J-STD-033: boards/ICs go into a moisture barrier aluminium bag (ES-BAG) + desiccant packs in sufficient quantity for the bag volume + an HIC card so the recipient can read the humidity before opening. Silica gel in non-woven/Tyvek paper sachets, DMF-free, dust-free; 6-dot HIC cards (5–10–15–20–30–40 % or 10–60 %) change colour with humidity — read them against the colour scale printed on the card (cobalt-free cards may not follow the blue → pink pattern).
| Type | Specification | Used for | Packing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silica gel 1 g / 5 g | Paper sachet | Small boxes, reels | 1,000–5,000/carton |
| Silica gel 10 / 20 / 25 g | Non-woven sachet | 350×500 aluminium bags, cartons | 500–1,000/carton |
| Silica gel 100 g | Non-woven sachet | Machine crates, cabinets | 100/carton |
| 6-dot HIC card | 5–60 %, cobalt-free | MBB aluminium bags | 125 / 200 cards/can |
| THE_6 humidity indicator card | 6 dots | — | Can |
Quantity calculation: depends on the bag’s WVTR and the storage time; PRIMEAG calculates the number of units to J-STD-033 when you send us the bag dimensions.
FAQ
– What does a fully pink HIC card mean? — The bag has leaked/humidity is >60 %; the components must be baked again. Note: MSL 2a–5a components already need baking as soon as the 10 % dot changes colour, without waiting for the whole card to turn pink.
– Can silica gel be regenerated? — Dry at 120 °C for 2 hours for the fabric type; the paper type cannot.
How does silica gel absorb moisture?
Silica gel is amorphous silicon dioxide with a network of nanometre-sized pores. The desiccant grade has an average pore size of about 2.4 nm and a surface area of about 750–800 m²/g. Water vapour is held on the pore surfaces (adsorption) rather than dissolving into the bead. At high humidity, silica gel can hold up to about 37 % of its own weight. Besides silica gel, desiccant packs for electronics also use activated clay.
Desiccant units and how to calculate the quantity
The electronics industry does not count desiccant in grams but in “units” as defined in MIL-D-3464: 1 unit is the amount of desiccant that adsorbs 3.00 g of water at 20 % RH and 6.00 g of water at 40 % RH, at 25 °C. Depending on the material and manufacturer, 1 unit corresponds to about 26 g of silica gel (AGM) or about 33 g of desiccant pack (SCS).
J-STD-033 calculates the number of units for a moisture barrier bag (MBB) with a formula of the form: U = 0.304 × M × WVTR × A / D, where M is the desired shelf life (months), WVTR is the water vapour transmission rate of the bag, A is the total surface area of the bag (both sides), and D is the moisture capacity of one unit. SCS example: an 8″ × 10″ bag (160 in² for both sides), WVTR 0.002, 12 months’ storage → about 0.2 unit. The J-STD-033 dry-pack procedure targets a minimum shelf life of 12 months from the bag seal date. Desco also provides an online calculator based on the same principle.
Humidity indicator cards (HIC): reading and deciding
Since J-STD-033B (2005), HIC cards for moisture-sensitive devices have used three dots: 5 % – 10 % – 60 % RH. The earlier version used 5–10–15 %. The 60 % dot was added to give an indication for MSL 2 components. Common rules in component manufacturers’ packing documents:
- Read the card immediately after opening the bag, comparing the dot colours with the reference colours printed on the card. The card is most accurate when read at about 23 °C.
- 10 % dot has changed colour → MSL 2a–5a components must be baked before soldering.
- 60 % dot has changed colour → MSL 2 components must also be baked; the card must not be reused.
- MSL 1 components do not need to be assessed against the card.
Cobalt-free cards: traditional cards use cobalt(II) chloride (blue when dry, pink when humid). The EU classifies this compound as toxic. Cobalt-free cards have various colour changes (for example brown to light blue for copper chloride-based cards), so always read them against the colour scale printed on the card.
Floor life according to J-STD-033
The time components may remain outside the sealed bag at ≤ 30 °C / 60 % RH:
| MSL | 1 | 2 | 2a | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5a | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floor life | Unlimited | 1 year | 4 weeks | 168 hours | 72 hours | 48 hours | 24 hours | As per label |
Storing desiccant packs and HIC cards
- Desiccant packs only work while they are still “fresh”. Open one carton at a time and reseal the rest immediately. Saturated packs cannot protect components.
- HIC card cans must be kept tightly closed with a desiccant pack inside. Desco recommends replacing the desiccant in the can after 3 openings; keep away from ammonia gas (which damages the cards), sunlight and steam.
- Before use, the highest dot on the card must still show the dry colour.
- Regenerating silica gel: dry at about 120 °C for 1–2 hours; it can be reused many times with only a small loss of performance.
Common mistakes
- Folding the bag opening or taping it instead of heat sealing — the bag loses its moisture barrier function.
- Putting desiccant packs into the bag by guesswork, without calculating from bag size and storage time.
- Leaving desiccant packs out on the bench for hours before bagging.
- Reusing HIC cards that have once reached the 60 % level.
Technical references
- Wikipedia – Humidity indicator card (J-STD-033, cobalt-free)
- Wikipedia – Silica gel (structure, regeneration)
- SCS – Desiccant: J-STD-033 units calculation (datasheet)
- Desco – Desiccant calculator (JEDEC J-STD-033)
- AGM Container Controls – How much desiccant do you need? (MIL-D-3464 unit definition)
- Texas Instruments – Cobalt dichloride-free humidity indicator cards (SLVA410)
Price: from 95,000 VND (excl. 8% VAT).
REQUEST A QUOTE: send the quantity and specifications you need — PRIMEAG quotes within 30 minutes.
Hotline/Zalo +84 906 108 292 · info@primeag.vn
Written by the PRIMEAG engineering team.
Related guides:Desiccant Packs for Export Garments: Preventing Mold and Musty…Anti-Static Vacuum Bags: When to Vacuum Pack, Which ESD…JEDEC Trays for Fuji, Panasonic, Yamaha Tray Feeders: Matrix,…
Related products:Cleanroom Paper and StationeryCleanroom Swabs (Foam, Polyester, Cotton Tip)Cobalt-Free Humidity Indicator Cards, 6-Spot
Updated: 2026-10-24
Giao tận nhà máy TP.HCM, Bình Dương, Đồng Nai, Long An, Tây Ninh · Kèm biên bản đo điện trở ESD theo lô · Hotline 0906 108 292