White Non-Indicating Silica Gel is a very porous form of silica gel with a great deal of internal surface area. It is a tasteless, odorless, non-toxic, non-corrosive, and chemically inert substance. It is a highly activated adsorbent that is available in numerous mesh sizes designed for many uses in industry. During adsorption, there is no chemical reaction in the silica gel, and no byproducts are created. Silica gel is non-deliquescent, and its shape and size never change. Its outer surfaces stay dry and it remains free-flowing, even when it is saturated with water.
Packets of silica gel are used to absorb moisture in all kinds of consumer products, from medicines to electronics to, of course, shoe-boxes. They are also widely used in compressed air systems. It's possible to prevent system breakdowns due to the build up of moisture by filtering the compressed air through a packet of silica gel. This technique is used in compressed air systems in railway locomotives and industrial settings. Compressed air systems with moisture absorbers are also needed to prevent the degradation of the signals transmitted by high-capacity radio and satellite transmitters.
