What are those little white packets of silicone gel that come with new hardware for?

If you buy a graphics card or other things on Amazon and Co, you will often find small bags with white gel in them. But what is it and what is it good for anyway? MeinMMO tells you what’s in the bags.

You can find that stuff anywhere. It doesn’t matter whether you’re buying hardware or treating yourself to a new pair of shoes: In the cardboard box you will often find these bags with small balls in them. With inscriptions like “Do not eat” and “Throw away” the stuff looks dangerous at first. But why should manufacturers pack dangerous things with their belongings?

Many people also throw the stuff away, because with used graphics cards, which you can get cheaper, the bags are usually no longer included. MeinMMO explains to you what’s in these bags and why you always find the stuff with your things.

Silica gel protects your stuff from moisture

What’s in the bags? The desiccant silicon dioxide (SiO₂). We know it better under the name silica gel or silica gel. The stuff is odorless and colorless.

These are rubbery balls that are mainly used as desiccants. Because the balls are not water soluble but can absorb water thereby keeping things dry or dry.

For this reason, you will find these bags especially for things that should be protected from moisture. For example in shoe boxes, in sensitive electronic devices such as mainboards or graphics cards and even in medicines.

With computers or other sensitive devices, the so-called anti-condensation bags are intended to ensure that no condensation forms when temperatures fluctuate and the electronics are damaged as a result.

You should not throw away the bags, because you can put them to good use

Here’s why you shouldn’t throw away the silica gel: The small bags can also be used after their old purpose.

You can use it to dry soaked shoes or bags. Instead of stuffing newspaper into wet shoes, just grab a sachet of silica gel

If you are traveling to a warm, humid place, it can also be worth packing a bag with your medicines or sensitive electronics.

As soon as the silica gel absorbs moisture, the balls change color. It depends on what color the gel was before. Orange balls change color to blue-green.

You can continue to use the bags after they have dried. To do this, heat the bags briefly so that the moisture escapes again. Because the moisture does not remain permanently in the balls.

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