Product Datasheet/Brochure
The fact is that not everybody will invest in the level of care that a Dry&Store
appliance provides. Many resort to the myriad of passive drying “systems” on
the market which are based on inferior technology and materials.
Sadly, even more individuals choose to do nothing, betting against the
inevitable damaging e ects of moisture relative to both short-term and
long-term performance of their valuable hearing instruments.
DryCaddy UV bridges the gap between doing nothing and using an active system from Dry&Store.
from the makers of Dry & Store®
It’s widely acknowledged that Dry&Store is the worldwide leader in caring for
hearing instruments. So…if Dry & Store is the best thing for hearing instruments,
why DryCaddy UV®?
sieve by far the best desiccant for hearing device drying. However,
it is that moisture-bonding strength that also makes it diffi cult
to reactivate for reuse. While technically a mol sieve desiccant
can be reactivated, the high temperature required for thorough
reactivation would cause the plastic DC Disc desiccant container to
melt before the mol sieve is properly reactivated.
The second issue associated with reactivating is that of an indicator.
Specifi cally, how can a user tell when it’s time to recharge, and
then how does the user know when the desiccant has been fully
reactivated? There are products on the market that use a moisture
indicator chemical that changes from pink when the beads are wet,
to blue when dry. Unfortunately, that pink-to-blue color-indicating
chemical contains cobalt chloride. Cobalt chloride has been
classifi ed by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer)
in Group 2B, which states that it is possibly carcinogenic to humans.
While cobalt chloride impregnated mol sieve has not been banned
from use, for safety purposes its use in consumer products is not
recommended. Unfortunately, a safer moisture-indicating mol sieve
has not yet been developed, and in general, moisture indicators are
not entirely reliable.
The other alternative would be to follow a laboratory type
procedure using a scale capable of measuring fractions of a gram
in order to weigh the DC Disc periodically during the recharging
process until a “dry weight” (less than 4% by weight moisture on
the molecular sieve) is achieved.
It’s important to note that even silica gel desiccants cannot
be recharged an indefi nite number of times. After multiple
reactivations, the silica gel’s structure changes to the point that it
does not attract or hold moisture. And if the temperature during
recharging is not maintained within a narrow range, the silica gel
can be irreparably damaged. But the user doesn’t necessarily know
that at the time. Overall, recharging simply is not a reliable process.
Can I use a Dry-Brik® in the DryCaddy UV? Are the DC Disc
and Dry-Brik interchangeable?
No, they’re not interchangeable, because the rate of adsorption
is regulated by the number of holes in each desiccant container.
Removing the foil cover on the Dry-Brik reveals four tiny holes.
That’s all that is needed because the Dry-Brik is used in an active
drying system. In contrast, the DC Disc has dozens of tiny holes in
order to facilitate the movement of moisture to the desiccant in a
closed system (the DryCaddy UV dryer) with no air movement. If
exposed to the heat and moving air in a Dry & Store system, the
DC Disc would have an extremely short useful life.
DryCaddy UV…
Best passive dryer on the market
Protects, stores, and dries hearing instruments, no electricity
required
Off ers UV-C lamp
Great for travel, camping, pool-time, etc.
Also an option for everyday use in temperate climates
Outperforms other passive drying “systems” due to proprietary
mol sieve desiccant
Compact size, easy to place on nightstand or table
DryCaddy UV is simply the best passive dryer available, and at an
entirely aff ordable price.
DryCaddy UV uses the most powerful, most aggressive, and
most eff ective desiccant on the market – molecular sieve. It
outperforms the more commonly used silica gel desiccant
in all categories with respect to the care of delicate hearing
instruments.
While not all “ultraviolet” lights are the same, DryCaddy UV
includes a UV-C lamp.
Using a fresh DryCaddy Disc
®
(DC Disc) desiccant every month
with the DryCaddy UV ensures that the desiccant performs
properly.
DryCaddy UV is also a handy alternative for those times when
it’s not convenient or practical to use an electronic Dry & Store
system, such as when camping or even for short trips.
What’s inside?
The DryCaddy UV dryer includes two specially designed DC Discs
containing molecular sieve desiccant. Each DC Disc is capable of
drying devices in the DryCaddy UV for a period of one month.
Why is molecular sieve desiccant better than silica gel?
Compared to other common desiccants such as silica gel,
molecular sieve desiccant is the best at removing even the most
tightly bound moisture from within the tiny crevices, pores,
openings, and tubes of hearing devices as well as other moisture-
sensitive devices. Then, once the moisture has been pulled from
the device to the mol sieve, the mol sieve continues to aggressively
hold onto the moisture with very strong electrostatic bonding
forces.
You may see charts comparing adsorption capacity of various
desiccant types, showing silica gel having a slightly greater surface
area. But there are a couple of major points to remember.
First, the diff erence in surface area is very slight. Both molecular
sieve and silica gel have a huge amount of surface area on
their crystalline structures. For example, a single tablespoon of
molecular sieve can have an internal surface area greater than that
of a football fi eld.
Second, adsorption capacity is aff ected by humidity. Mol sieve has
capacity greater than silica gel at relative humidity levels below
40%, which is the typical condition inside a drying device, whether
passive or active.
Third, the most important factor is how quickly the water molecule
is attracted to the desiccant and how well molecules “stick” to the
surface so they do not come back off easily and get back into the
hearing aid. In comparing adsorption strength, think of silica gel as
a Post-It
®
note, and molecular sieve as duct tape.
Once the molecular sieve desiccant is saturated with
moisture, can it be reactivated for reuse?
The strong electrostatic bonding forces between polarizable water
molecules and the surface of the molecular sieve crystals make mol
For more information call 1.800.327.8547 or e-mail info@dryandstore.com | www.drycaddyuv.com
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