Silver Mylar Bag Insulation vs. Foam for Dry Ice: A Comparison

It is worth underlining that the isolation of the place where dry ice is transported or stored is crucial for its fresh duration. The two most often used are the bags made from silver mylar and foam insulation. But which one is good for handling dry ice? In this article, to enable you to make informed decisions, we are going to compare the two.

Who needs Silver Mylar Bag Insulation?

Silver mylar is one that is reflective and used widely in insulation of different products. It is relatively light, easily adaptable and highly resistant, it will be suitable for several uses like the thermal insulation. It becomes clear that Mylar bags cannot be used when it comes to the food and packaging industry as they help to maintain their contents fresh as well as protect from the unfavorable conditions outside.

Benefits of silver Mylar bags for dry ice

1. Reflective Properties: 

Thermally conductive aspect of mylar’s silver is it keeps heat off, thereby decelerating the heat sublimating from dry ice.

2. Lightweight:

 As for other insulating materials, Mylar bags are much lighter in weight, which is easier for transfer and moving.

3. Cost-Effective:

 It is also considered to be less expensive than similarly sized other pieces of insulation.

4. Space-Saving: 

An advantage of mylar is that it is easily foldable especially when not in use hence occupies little space.

What is Foam Insulation?

There are various materials which are used in making foam insulation among them being polyurethane and polystyrene. Stainless steel is often used where temperature fluctuations are required to be avoided in transport containers or other types of storage. Regarding the operation of foam it is compacted and its work involves strapping air in order to act as insulators against fluctuations in temperatures.

Benefits of foam insulation for Dry Ice

1. High Insulation Capacity: 

Foam also adds to better thermal adiabatics, or in simpler terms, the dry ice stays colder for longer periods wrapped with foam.

2. Durability:

 Foam is more hardy and cannot easily be compressed thus suitable for long distance carriage or if the consignment will undergo some handling.

3. Customizable: 

Foam is flexible and therefore can be trimmed to a desired shape, sliced into different shapes depending on the type of containers or storage required.

Comparison: Mylar vs. Foam for Dry Ice

1. Insulation Efficiency

Mylar Bags: Even though mylar is shiny it is not as insulating as foam boards. It is appropriate for short term use or in small quantities to store dry ice only.

Foam: Critically, foam has a better r-value which makes it have a higher density of insulation. Long-term storage or quantities greater than one pound are best accomplished using foam.

2. Durability

Mylar Bags: Mylar can be cut or pricked or ripped, and this would be detrimental to its capability to insulate.

Foam: The foam is a lot firmer therefore provides considerably more cushioning in zones that are definitely much more vulnerable or wipe clean.

3. Cost

Mylar Bags: In most cases, cheaper as compared to permanent structures to provide accommodation for temporary or small purposes.

Foam: Another version is somewhat more expensive, but it is more durable and provides better insulation.

Conclusion: Which is Better for Dry Ice?

Silver mylar bag insulation or foam? It all depends on which you prefer. For short-term use and when insulation is needed to be kept lightweight and inexpensive, using a mylar bag is fine. But for the prolonged storage or while transporting more volume of dry ice, foam insulation outperforms and is much more robust. If you take time to determine what you need for the insulation, you will be in a position to get proper insulation for the dry ice.