Success in the cold chain is not about how *much* ice you use but about where you put it. A thermal blanket turns the pallet into a flask: a metallised layer reflecting ≈ 97 % of radiant heat and a bubble core that interrupts conduction. The dry ice is the cold battery inside that flask. Paired correctly, the sublimation rate slows by up to 65 % — the same ice takes you more than twice as far.
Package architecture by transit time
| Transit time | Package architecture | Ice form | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24–48 h | EPS shipper + outer carton | 16 mm pellets | Basic labelling |
| 48–96 h | Thermal blanket (single layer) + pallet | Block core + pellet top-up | UN 1845 marking + datalogger |
| 96–120+ h | Thermal blanket PRO (double layer) | Pressed block core + void-fill pellets | UN 1845 + datalogger + PCM support |
How is the ice load calculated?
A practical model: daily base load × transit days × safety buffer (1.25–1.40). For a EURO pallet of frozen product the base load is around 14 kg/day; a thermal blanket cuts that figure almost in half. The endurance simulator on this site uses the same model; the final number is confirmed in a written packing plan.
A real lane: Istanbul to Shanghai
- 1Planning (T-3 days)Product, target band (−18 °C), transit time (~96 h) and terminal (IST) are fixed; ice load and blanket layers are approved in writing.
- 2Packing day (T-0)The pallet is wrapped, the block core is built and the datalogger started; UN 1845 marks are printed with a 42 kg net weight declaration.
- 3Terminal hand-overThe pallet is delivered to the air cargo terminal at a booked time; the acceptance photo is sent to the customer.
- 4Proof on arrivalThe datalogger report is downloaded as PDF/CSV: documented evidence for your quality file that the chain never broke.
Products mentioned in this guide
Thermal Blanket + Dry Ice Hybrid
A multi-layer reflective blanket isolates the pallet from ambient heat and cuts the sublimation rate of dry ice by up to 65%.
Insulated Shipper Boxes
From europallet crates to pharmacy shippers: dry-ice compatible insulated box systems, outer carton and labelling included.
Temperature Proof Service
A recorder fitted to your package produces door-to-door temperature proof: calibrated, PDF/CSV reporting, alarm thresholds.
Block
Minimum surface, maximum endurance: pressed blocks and cut slices that slow sublimation down on 72–120 hour lanes.