When it comes to cold chain logistics, the primary concern is temperature protection. Products like alcoholic beverages, chocolate, and even pharmaceuticals are all extremely susceptible to temperature changes. When exposed to a temperature range outside their tolerance levels, flavor, solidity, and, in the case of pharmaceuticals, even efficacy can all be affected. This is why passive pallet protection, like double bubble foil insulation, can be critical. Double bubble foil insulation can protect temperature-sensitive products from three types of heat transmission, which include:
Conduction
Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct contact. Put simply, if a warm and a cold object are placed together, heat from the warmer object and chilled air from the cooler object will transfer to the other object until both objects are at the same temperature. So, if you have cold wine, you are trying to protect, having it in contact with warm tropical fruit will result in heat being transferred from the fruit to the wine.
Double bubble foil insulation acts as a physical layer of protection that prevents physical contact between other products, thus preventing conduction from occurring.
Convection
Convection is the transfer of heat through fluids, which can include both liquids, such as water, and vapor, such as air. In other words, if the air is warm, it will naturally transmit that heat to cooler objects, such as pharmaceuticals that need to be preserved at cooler temperatures.
Double bubble foil insulation is air-tight. In other words, the air at the ideal temperature inside is sealed in, and the warmer air outside can’t get in to mix and alter the temperature. Because of this, convection can’t occur; the time it takes for chilled products to warm up is dramatically increased from minutes to hours or even days.
Radiation
The final form of heat transmission is radiation. While most people think of these as toxic rays that cause cancer, radiation is when heat travels from a central source, such as the sun, as waves that eventually make contact with other objects. This is how the roof gets warm on sunny days or the tarmac on a runway.
Double bubble foil insulation on pallet covers acts as a shield against heat radiation. The metallic surface of the foil does not absorb heat waves the way roof singles or asphalt would but instead reflect it, preventing the heat from penetrating. Because of this triple protection, double bubble foil insulation provides excellent passive protection. If you’re shipping temperature-sensitive products and want more protection, contact Protek Cargo with your needs and get a quote.
