Cooling Element
A cooling element is a component that absorbs or releases heat, supporting temperature control in passive shipping packaging. The term covers different formats and thermal storage media. Terms such as coolant pack, gel pack and PCM therefore do not describe the same classification.
How can cooling elements be classified?
- By format: a gel pack in a film pouch, a foam brick with a foam core, a rigid-shell coolant pack or a segmented cooling mat.
- By medium: for example, a water-based filling or a specially formulated phase change material with a selected melting range.
- By use: single or repeated use, according to the specific design and its approved conditions.
Which information is insufficient for selection?
The format alone predicts neither the achievable product temperature nor the shipping duration. The filling quantity, initial state, arrangement and insulation must match the load and ambient conditions. The common term coolant pack mainly describes the operating principle; the specific selection is based on each product’s technical specifications.
Related terms: Coolant Pack · PCM Coolant Pack
Technical references:
WHO: Qualification of shipping containers