Efficiency of "ice packs"

tony1941 | 21:06 Fri 07th Apr 2006 | Science

1 Answers

I had always thought that those plastic blue liquid filled "ice packs" were filled with a solution of ethylene glycol, and that this was used to provide more"cold storage" due to a larger value of the specific heat. I have just discovered that ethylene glycol has a Specific heat of 0.57, (cf. water @1). What is the stuff in th epacks? What is the best way to make a "cool pack"? Is it best to rely on the latent heat of fusion of ice? .......or have I missed something?

watch battery

weather blackout

Answers

Only 1 answer

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by tony1941. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.

Space

I think it's the latent heat that matters, not the specific heat.
What makes the ice pack efficient is mostly the heat it absorbs while melting, not the heat it absorbs once liquid and warming up.
You are supposed to make sure your ice pack is completely frozen before using it.

Only 1 answer

Do you know the answer?