Heating pads are versatile heating tools that are used in various areas of life. They are used both for therapeutic procedures for the purpose of warming up, and for warming individual parts of the body in winter frosts. The most high-quality and harmless warming is carried out in the process of using salt heaters. Often these are reusable, less often disposable plastic bags filled with saline, which is the heat-generating component.

How does a salt heater work

The work of the salt heater is based on the chemical process of the interaction of salt concentrate with an aluminum spring and other components that are not toxic and do not have a negative effect on the body. A chemical reaction is accompanied by an immediate release of heat. It should be noted that the heat obtained during the interaction of the reagents remains for a long time. The duration of maintaining the temperature depends on the concentration of the composition in the compress and the volume of the package. Detailed information is indicated on the heating pad itself.

Indications for the use of a salt heating pad

As you know, heating pads are designed not only to warm individual parts of the body in cold weather. Often they are used for therapeutic purposes to relieve inflammation, warm up during colds, to expand blood vessels, etc. It is worth noting that these thermal packs can even be used for cosmetic purposes.

The device has the following indications regarding the treatment and prevention of diseases:

• abundant local inflammatory processes;
• in the first hours after mechanical damage (sprains, bruises, etc., if you use a salt heater as a cooling element);
• bleeding from the nasal cavity;
• as part of postoperative rehabilitation;
• with meningitis, sinusitis, bronchitis and other diseases.

Application for newborns

Salt heating pad is a “magic” remedy that allows you to save your baby from colic. In order to use it for an infant, you should consult a pediatrician regarding the method of applying a thermo-compress. Often, so that the temperature of the heating pad is not too hot for the baby, it is wrapped in a cloth or towel made of natural material and applied to the baby's tummy. Such a tool is easy to use and can be bought at a pharmacy - it is sold almost everywhere.

Salt heating instructions

A product such as a salt heater is a versatile and necessary appliance in every home. To use the thermal compress, you must activate it, after which a chemical reaction begins inside the heating pad with the release of heat. The heating process is carried out very quickly, in about 30 seconds, reaching the optimum temperature of 52-55 degrees. During heating, the liquid inside the plastic bag changes color and becomes solid. For this reason, it is necessary to immediately apply a thermal compress to the area to be warmed so that the package takes on the curves of the body with local interaction.

How to turn on the heating pad and how long the heat lasts

To activate the heating pad, you should squeeze it. In most cases, if the device is designed to withstand the load, for example, a warmer insole, a collar warmer, or a back warmer, then the compression process is carried out by itself. After the pressure in the plastic bag has increased, the reaction begins with the release of heat.

How to restore the device

This heating element is quite popular due to the fact that no additional tools or complex processes are required for its restoration, recharging. All that is needed in order for the heating pad to start producing heat again is to boil it in ordinary water. This procedure is carried out for 20 minutes, after which the element is again able to perform its direct functions.

Overview of salt heaters with a photo

To date, there is a huge range of salt heaters, which are used in different areas of life and for various purposes. Below is a list of the most popular products that are in the greatest demand.

Warmer "Super ENT" for the nose

This is a reusable heating pad, which is designed specifically for the treatment of ENT diseases, including: sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, rhinitis, etc. Due to its convenient shape and light weight, which is equal to 130 grams, it can be easily applied to the nose area, while the process of warming the sinuses will not cause any discomfort. For the manufacture of the product, only environmental materials are used that are not toxic. Inside, the heating pad contains saline solution, which is widely used in various areas of life. The heating temperature is 53 degrees, and this indicator can remain unchanged for 85 minutes.

"Insole" for feet

This is a special insole, which is designed to fit inside shoes for contact warming of the feet. This option is perfect for fans of winter sports, including fishing, hunting, snowboarding, etc. The composition of the heating pad includes components such as water, activated carbon, salt, cellulose and iron, which makes the device completely non-toxic. The average temperature of the insole is approximately 35 degrees, while the maximum temperature is 39 degrees. The heat generated by the device is retained for five hours or more.

"Matrasik" for the back and joints

This heating pad is a small plastic bag filled with concentrated saline solution. Its dimensions are approximately 29 cm long and 18 cm wide, which makes the heating tool a convenient device that is easy to use for domestic purposes. The maximum heating temperature of the heating pad is 55 degrees. To activate the process of salt crystallization with heat release, it is only necessary to slightly compress the spring immersed in the liquid. To use the tool again, it should be immersed in water and boiled for 20 minutes, after which the heating pad is able to return to its functions.

"Children's"

Children's heating pads are practically no different from classic salt heating pads. The principle of their work is the process of salt crystallization, which makes the product completely environmentally friendly. Most often, children's heating pads have an interesting shape and pattern for kids, they are often sold in the form of cartoon characters or fairy tales. When heated, the solution reaches a temperature comfortable for the child's body and cannot harm the child's body. However, you should consult your pediatrician before using these heating pads.

"Mega" for hands

This type of heating pads is represented by a set of rectangular plates, which are individually packed. The Mega Hand Warmer is an easy way to warm up cold fingers in cold weather. In order to activate the heating pad, remove the protective film and paper from the plate, and then fold the plate in half. Its principle of operation is constructed in such a way that the process of heat release occurs only when a fold is formed. It can easily be put in a jacket pocket or put inside a glove. The tool heats up for a long time, more than eight hours and its temperature is approximately 14 degrees.

Video: how to make a chemical heating pad with your own hands

As part of this video, the principle of making a chemical heating pad with your own hands is shown. Thanks to detailed explanations of the manufacture of a heating tool at each stage, the process of creating a device is greatly facilitated and becomes accessible to everyone without additional knowledge and skills.

On the net you can find a lot of developments of home-made chemical heating pads for anglers and tourists. The work of the heating pad is based on a chemical reaction involving water, salt, aluminum and copper sulfate. A heating pad is used to warm up stiff fingers while fishing. You can use it to reheat cold food.
It must be admitted that the reagents are not cheap now, it is probably easier and more profitable to take a catalytic heating pad, one refueling is enough for 6-8 hours of operation, after 200-300 applications the platinum element simply changes. But, according to the author of the development we are considering, the Chinese catalytic heater has its drawbacks. If you come across a frail China, then the catalyst will last for a week. In addition, such a heating pad is sensitive to temperature. In the outer pocket, the body cools down, the fuel stops evaporating and the heating pad without fuel stops producing heat. She is capricious in this regard. Even the cover does not help. And if you take it with frozen hands, it will cool down very quickly.

The author of the video tutorial first demonstrates the mechanism of the chemical heating pad. To do this, he took copper sulfate bought in a store and ground it in a coffee grinder. However, he had to grind vitriol only for the sake of demonstrating the operation of the device, since large crystals crack when heated. Copper sulphate was calcined in order to increase the initial temperature of the solution, so as not to wait a few extra minutes before the reaction began, but you can do without it.

What kind of aluminum is used in the heating pad? Food foil. Width 28 cm, length 20 cm, thickness 14 microns. The ratio of copper sulfate and kitchen salt is 2:1. A bamboo skewer is glued into the cork with hot glue.

In the experiment, very cold water. The mixture is heated to room temperature by dissolving anhydrous copper sulphate. Shake the bottle with the mixture to speed up the chemical reaction. The foil on the skewer will evenly heat the liquid in the bottle. During the reaction, hydrogen and heat will be released, which will speed up the reaction. The pressure in the bottle must be controlled and hydrogen constantly vented. Aluminum dissolves and copper is released from the solution. If no gas is released within a minute, then the reaction is over. In principle, water can even be boiled, but a bottle cannot withstand such heating.

And now about how not to make a chemical heating pad.

Wanting to keep the reaction time to a minimum, the author of the video decided to increase the aluminum contact area. To this end, he crushed aluminum plates. Further, as usual, I put salt and blue vitriol in the bottle in the right proportion. Filled with water. Stirred. I threw in an aluminum blank and screwed on the lid. Opening the lid to vent the hydrogen, he was charged with a dirty hot liquid on himself.

Watch the video experiment showing the chemical reaction behind the heating pad and how to make it yourself. Well, if you want to see right away, “what the violation of technology has resulted in”, that is, about the dangers of chemical heating pads, then from the moment 3:41.

Features of the heating pad made of copper sulphate proposed by the author.

A similar recipe has been roaming the net for decades, but it all comes down to mixing salts, adding sawdust, aluminum and water. And while not
it is clear how to regulate the reaction rate, the temperature of the heating pad and how to remove the evolved gases. The author chose the easy way. A short but intense chemical reaction produces heat, which holds the mixture of salts. This allows you to save reagents and keep the temperature in a comfortable range.
As the heating pad cools, you can add new portions of aluminum.

The rate of a chemical reaction depends on the concentration, temperature, and surface area of ​​the reactants. Therefore, aluminum in the form of foil, and not wire, pipes, corners and other things. Because the concentration of salts during the reaction falls, then there should be an excess of salts. The solubility of copper sulfate in 100 grams of water at 25 degrees Celsius is 23 grams. I do not advise taking more than 4 times the amount. during the reaction, copper is released in the form of the finest powder, which thickens the solution of salts and prevents the circulation of the solution. Copper sulphate was calcined in order to increase the initial temperature of the solution, so as not to wait a few extra minutes before the reaction began, but you can do without it.

The wooden skewer is designed to drown the roll of foil and isolate it from the walls of the bottle. Otherwise, the foil is covered with many bubbles and floats. In this case, all the heat is released in the upper part of the bottle, which leads to strong heating and deformation of the walls. In the case of a skewer, gas bubbles cause the liquid to circulate, so constantly shaking the bottle and releasing gas is not necessary. It is enough just without twisting the cork, let the bottle stand for a couple of minutes. Army units work on the same principle.
flameless food heaters.

The other is a safe heating pad, a very interesting principle of operation in the other.

Making a chemical heating pad

On a winter hike or a trip to the northern regions, it is so nice to warm up from an outside source of heat. But a fire can only be made at a halt or during a long stay, but what to do on the move? It can help here chemical heating pad, which is a required attribute in sets for survival.

Of course, it can be purchased in specialized stores, but it will not cost as cheap as we would like, so it is better to stay on a homemade device. Depending on how you want to use it: to warm your hands, body under clothes or as a heating pad in a sleeping bag, a container is also selected in which the chemical reaction will take place.

There are several ways to make a chemical heating pad, but we will focus on three of the most common. First, let's define the ingredients that I depicted in the picture.

Method 1 (older)

For the first method, you will need: 20 g of ordinary salt (NaCl), 40 g of copper sulfate (CuCl), a piece of aluminum wire and 30 g of sawdust. It is advisable to grind vitriol and salt to a crystal size of no more than 1 mm (if they are larger).

Add sawdust to the mixture of salt and copper sulfate and mix thoroughly. Bend the aluminum wire into a spiral and put it in a jar or bottle (preferably glass). Pour the prepared mixture on top so that the level is 1 cm below the neck. To bring it to working condition, it is enough to add 50 ml of water to the container, which will start the reaction and raise the temperature of your heating pad to 60 ° C in 3-4 minutes.

To understand the principle of action, I will give the formula for a chemical reaction:

CuSO 4 + 2NaCl → Na 2 SO 4 + CuCl 2

It is the formation of copper chloride that leads to the release of part of the heat, while the main heat occurs when it interacts with aluminum wire:

2Al+3CuCl 2 → 2AlCl 3 +3Cu

Wood chips do not take part in the chemical reaction. By absorbing water, they are a kind of reaction retardant, which significantly extends the time of the heating pad. In addition, wood has a low thermal conductivity, which allows it to accumulate heat and release it gradually. In a closed container, heat is retained for up to 2 hours.

For modern realities, glass containers are something rare. It is much easier to find a plastic container of a suitable shape and volume. In this case, make sure that the wire does not touch the plastic, as it may warp when heated.

Method 2

This design of a chemical heating pad is in demand among tourists who arrange winter overnight stays in tents. They take it with them in a sleeping bag and place it in their bosoms to warm up before going to bed.

To make it, you need a dense waterproof bag (experienced ones take 2 - one in one), into which a mixture of 5 g of CuCl powder, 5 g of aluminum powder and 5 stal spoons of sawdust is poured. It is enough to add 40 ml of water to such a mixture to start a chemical reaction with the release of heat.

Method 3

This method is very similar to the first one. Only in this case we do not use sawdust.

First, take a piece of aluminum foil 20x30 cm. Fold it in half (10x30 cm) and roll it into a tube around a wooden barbecue skewer. After that, glue the skewer to the lid of the plastic bottle with a glue gun. So the heated foil will not touch the plastic walls.

We take edible salt and copper sulfate powder in a ratio of 1: 2 and pour them into a bottle. To start the reaction, you need to add water to the container. During the reaction, heat and hydrogen will be released, which will have to be vented from time to time. The aluminum foil will dissolve, so shake the bottle periodically. You will learn about the end of the reaction, and, accordingly, the cessation of heat release, by the cessation of gas evolution on the foil.

As you can see, the methods I have given have their pros and cons, so choose the one that suits you best for hiking and local conditions. survival.

• Before starting the experiment, put on protective gloves and goggles.
• Do the experiment on a tray.

General safety rules

• Avoid getting chemicals in your eyes or mouth.
• Do not allow people without goggles, as well as small children and animals, to the experiment site.
• Keep the experimental kit out of the reach of children under 12 years of age.
• Wash or clean all equipment and accessories after use.
• Make sure all reagent containers are tightly closed and properly stored after use.
• Make sure all disposable containers are properly disposed of.
• Use only the equipment and reagents supplied in the kit or recommended in the current instructions.
• If you have used a food container or experiment utensils, discard them immediately. They are no longer suitable for food storage.

First Aid Information

• If reagents come into contact with eyes, rinse eyes thoroughly with water, keeping eyes open if necessary. Seek immediate medical attention.
• If swallowed, rinse mouth with water, drink some clean water. Don't induce vomiting. Seek immediate medical attention.
• In case of inhalation of reagents, remove the victim to fresh air.
• In case of skin contact or burns, flush the affected area with plenty of water for 10 minutes or longer.
• If in doubt, consult a doctor immediately. Take a chemical reagent and a container from it with you.
• In case of injury, always consult a doctor.

• Improper use of chemicals can cause injury and damage to health. Carry out only the experiments specified in the instructions.
• This set of experiments is intended only for children 12 years of age and older.
• The abilities of children differ significantly even within an age group. Therefore, parents conducting experiments with their children should decide at their own discretion which experiments are suitable for their children and will be safe for them.
• Parents should discuss safety rules with their child or children before experimenting. Particular attention must be paid to the safe handling of acids, alkalis and flammable liquids.
• Before starting experiments, clear the place of experiments from objects that may interfere with you. Storage of foodstuffs near the test site should be avoided. The test site should be well ventilated and close to a faucet or other source of water. For experiments, you need a stable table.
• Substances in disposable packaging should be used completely or disposed of after one experiment, i.e. after opening the package.

Other experiments

Disposal

Dispose of the solid waste of the experiment with household waste.

Chemical saline applicators are handy devices for warming or cooling compresses. And if at home salt heaters can be replaced with electrical appliances, then on a camping trip you simply cannot do without them.

Types of salt heaters

A chemical heating pad is a container filled with a supersaturated saline solution, which is in equilibrium in an inactive state. The exact composition of the mixture may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.

All autonomous salt applicators on the market can be divided into two large groups:

• single use;
• reusable application.

Disposable heating pads have a simpler composition. Outwardly, these are small rag or rubber cases, usually rectangular in shape, in which there is a dense dry mass. When activated, this mass heats up.

A reusable chemical heating pad is a more complex design. The body for it is made of rubber. Inside the case, in addition to the solution, there is a special trigger, which is responsible for starting the crystallization process. Also, this device may have an additional microfiber cover and an electronic starter.

Why are salt applicators better than analogues?

Compared to other autonomous heaters, chemical heaters have several advantages:

• They can be purchased at every camping equipment store. Reusable heating pads are also sold in pharmacies and baby supply stores.
• These devices are portable. They are small in size.
• Unlike the same gasoline portable heaters, salt heaters do not smell of anything during operation.
• They are convenient to use.
• Chemical heating pads are safe even for small children, as they are hypoallergenic and airtight.
• They do not need to buy additional filters or replacement parts.
• They are durable. The shelf life of disposable applicators is 2-3 years, and reusable ones can be used up to 1000 applications.

And how much does a reusable chemical heating pad cost? The price of an autonomous heater of any kind is democratic. A disposable heating pad costs 20-50 rubles. And the prices for reusable devices depend on the country of manufacture, the size and shape of the heating pad, but usually range from 300-2000 rubles.

Indications for use

During dry heat treatment, vasodilation occurs. Because of this, blood circulation improves. Therefore, there are a number of medical indications in which the doctor may prescribe heating with an autonomous chemical applicator:

• arrhythmia;
• heart failure;
• menstrual cramps;
• headache;
• osteochondrosis;
• arthritis;
• arthrosis;
• rhinitis;
• frontitis;
• sinusitis;
• angina;
• frostbite;
• pain in the legs;
• other colds.

But a warm compress can not be done with:

• acute inflammatory processes;
• pustular skin lesions;
• allergic skin reactions;
• fever
• for pain and spasms of unknown origin.

And when, on the contrary, you need to slow down blood circulation, a chemical heating pad is used for cooling. The indications for this are:

• bruises and bruises;
• nosebleeds;
• stretching of muscles and tendons;
• high body temperature;
• flushes of blood to the head;
• the first hours after the injury;
• recovery period after surgery.

But a cold chemical heating pad is contraindicated in shock, collapse and spastic pains in the abdomen.

For ease of use, manufacturers make reusable applicators different in design. Mattresses and collars are best suited for warming large areas of the body: the lower back, neck and joints. And special knee pads have a shape and ties that are convenient for attaching to the knee. There are warmers in the form of insoles for shoes or linings for the nose and face.

How to make a heat compress?

Activation of the applicator in the "heating" mode depends on what type it belongs to.

A disposable heating pad must be freed from packaging, then properly kneaded. But at the same time, you should not open the bag with the filler itself. After that, the applicator should be left in the open air for a while. After 5-10 minutes it will become warm. This means that the chemical heating pad is ready for use. You can put it in your pocket or shoes and use it to warm your hands and feet for 3-4 hours. Do not allow the heating pad to come into contact with the naked body.

Reusable applicators are activated using a special trigger, which usually looks like a trigger wand:

1. The trigger must be bent by squeezing the heating pad or pressing a special button. This will start the crystallization reaction.
2. After that, the heating pad needs to be kneaded a little in the hands and applied to the diseased organ, so that as it warms up, it takes the desired anatomical shape. A few minutes after switching on, the solution will become solid.
3. To avoid burns on the body, the applicator should not touch bare skin. Therefore, it is better to put it in a special case or wrap it in a towel.
4. To prevent the device from shifting, you need to remain still for the entire time the compress is received.

The operating time of a reusable heating pad in the active state is about 30-90 minutes. After that, it needs to be restored.

Rules for cooling with a salt applicator

For a cold compress, a reusable one is also used. Instructions for use are simple: an inactive applicator is put in the refrigerator for half an hour, after which it is immediately ready for use.

Such a heating pad will keep cold three times longer than regular ice. And besides cold compresses to the body, it can also be used to cool equipment and food products. Similar salt applicators are used when transporting products.

In this case, you cannot:

• Place a heated heating pad in the refrigerator. Temperature fluctuations can cause it to break.
• Cool the applicator in the freezer. At sub-zero temperatures, the solution inside it crystallizes, hardens and becomes unusable.

Disposal and restoration of heating pad

Immediately after use, a disposable chemical heating pad is disposed of with household waste, and a reusable heating pad is disposed of only after the solution inside it has expired. Until then, the reusable heating pad can be restored after each use. For this you need:

1. Wait until it finishes heating up and starts to cool down.
2. Wrap the heating pad in a plain cloth.
3. Place in boiling water for 5-20 m.
4. Drain the water and let dry.
5. Store until next use in a dark, dry place at room temperature.

If necessary, a reusable heating pad can be immediately reused.

Babies often have colic and teething. And while exploring the world, small children can accidentally hurt themselves. Therefore, a device with which a child can make a cooling or heating compress in a matter of minutes is so valuable when caring for children.

Self-contained applicators for children are available in a special design. They have a bright and colorful appearance that makes them look like toys. Such heating pads, in addition to traditional compresses, use:

• for heating a baby carriage during a walk;
• to warm the bed before going to bed.

Any salt is absolutely safe due to hermetic packaging. At the same time, the device does not cause allergies and takes the shape of the body.

The use of a heating pad in cosmetic procedures

Steam the skin of the face before applying a nourishing mask. It will also treat small pimples and relax facial muscles after a hard day's work, which will have a beneficial effect on overall well-being and smoothness of the skin. The instructions for using it for cosmetic purposes will help to do this procedure is very simple and does not differ from the rules for use with a conventional heat compress.

To do this, it must be activated and applied to the face on the area of ​​interest. So that as the heating pad does not burn the skin, the device can be additionally wrapped with gauze or a towel. The main thing is that both the heating pad itself and the towel are clean, since during the compress, an infection can be introduced into the enlarged pores.

But it is best to buy a special device that has the right size and anatomical shape. The beauty applicator comes with a handy microfiber pouch.

Will heating pads help when hiking?

Going fishing, hunting or just relaxing in nature, be sure to take a few stand-alone heating pads with you. They are useful for:

• warm the sleeping bag;
• warm hands in pockets;
• warm and dry your feet.

To use chemicals, you just need to activate the applicators and put them in your boots. Either disposable heating pads or reusable insole devices are best suited for this purpose.

But heating in this way can only be done locally. If a general hypothermia of the body was allowed, then the compress must be abandoned, since in this case the blood flow will rush to the heated organ, depriving the rest of normal blood circulation. Which will lead to even more freezing.

Knowing how to use a chemical heating pad, you can have time to provide first aid in case of injury and warm up even during winter fishing.