Humidity Control Slurries, Apparatuses, and Methods of Making Same

Abstract

Slurries and methods of making slurries for modifying and extending relative humidity control ranges. The slurries may include a saturated aqueous salt and one or more other reagents selected to provide a controlled modifiable narrow range of relative humidity. The saturated aqueous salt may be one or more of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, sodium formate, and/or magnesium chloride, and the one or more other reagents may be one or more of a lactate salt, glycerol, and/or an acetate salt, for example.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A slurry for modifying and extending relative humidity control ranges, the slurry comprising:
 a saturated aqueous salt; and   one or more other reagents;   wherein the slurry provides a controlled modifiable narrow range of relative humidity.   
     
     
         2 . The slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous salt and the select other reagents are food grade per Foods Chemicals Codex (FCC). 
     
     
         3 . The slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the slurry is substantially odorless. 
     
     
         4 . The slurry of  claim 1 , wherein large crystals do not form in the slurry during normal use of the slurry. 
     
     
         5 . The slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the saturated aqueous salt is sodium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, sodium formate, or magnesium chloride. 
     
     
         6 . The slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more reagents comprises a lactate salt. The slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more reagents comprises glycerol. 
     
     
         8 . The slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more reagents comprises an acetate salt. 
     
     
         9 . The slurry in  claim 1  wherein the one or more reagents comprises a food-grade optically and/or UV active additive. 
     
     
         10 . The slurry of  claim 1 , where in the select reagent wherein the one or more reagents comprises glycerol, the slurry further comprising a thickening agent. 
     
     
         11 . The slurry of  claim 1  wherein select reagents may be added as combinations. 
     
     
         12 . The slurry of  claim 1 , wherein an amount of excess water present ranges from 0% of the slurry concentration level of the other components of the mixture to the water concentration at the maximum humidity control point wherein saturation no longer exists. 
     
     
         13 . The slurry of  claim 1 , wherein the slurry comprises 0 to 2% of a food grade gum providing viscosity control. 
     
     
         14 . The slurry of  claim 1  wherein the additive concentration exceeds the salt concentration. 
     
     
         15 . The slurry of  claim 1  wherein the salt solution is not a saturated solution. 
     
     
         16 . The slurry of  claim 1  wherein the slurry does not lose its self-indicating property with regard to need for replacement. 
     
     
         17 . A slurry for modifying and extending relative humidity control ranges, the slurry comprising:
 a saturated aqueous salt comprising one or more of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, sodium formate, and/or magnesium chloride; and   one or more other reagents comprising a lactate salt, glycerol, and/or an acetate salt;   wherein the slurry provides a controlled modifiable narrow range of relative humidity.   
     
     
         18 . The slurry of  claim 17  further comprising up to 2% of a food grade gum. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a slurry for modifying and extending relative humidity control ranges, the method comprising:
 combining a saturated aqueous salt and one or more other reagents;   wherein the slurry provides a controlled modifiable narrow range of relative humidity.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the other reagents comprise lactate salt, glycerol, and/or an acetate salt.