Shipping advanced materials like adhesives and epoxies often requires extreme cold. That’s why many specialty syringes, including those from NAMICS, are shipped with dry ice to maintain a storage temperature near –40 °C. This keeps sensitive formulations stable during transit.

But receiving a frozen syringe isn’t the end of the journey — how you handle it next determines whether the material will perform as designed. Here are the key things to know.

Why Dry Ice Matters

Dry ice provides a temporary cold chain, but it doesn’t last forever. On average, dry ice will fully sublimate in about four days. As it disappears, the shipping container gradually warms. The syringe may remain frozen for a time, but once it begins to thaw, changes in the material’s properties can occur.

Watch the Viscosity

Viscosity — the thickness or flow behavior of the material — is one of the first things to change as temperature increases.

• At –40 °C, viscosity remains stable.
• Near 0 °C, viscosity can rise quickly, making the adhesive harder to dispense and potentially compromising performance.

Best practice: check viscosity when the syringe arrives. If the material has thickened excessively, it may no longer meet application requirements.

Don’t Forget Pot Life and Shelf Life

Two important clocks start ticking once a frozen syringe warms up:

• Pot life: Once at room temperature, most syringes have a usable window of about 24 hours. Beyond that, curing or degradation may begin.
• Shelf life: Typically 12 months from the date of manufacture — but only if storage remains at the recommended temperature. Extended exposure to higher temperatures can significantly reduce this.

Translation: plan ahead. Only thaw what you intend to use.

Handling Tips

To get the most out of your frozen shipment:

• Keep syringes frozen until you’re ready to use them.
• Let them thaw in a controlled environment, not at random during transit.
• Confirm viscosity before dispensing.
• Follow pot life and shelf life limits carefully.

Final Takeaway

A syringe shipped in dry ice is only as good as its handling after arrival. By monitoring temperature, checking viscosity, and respecting storage guidelines, you’ll ensure your advanced materials perform the way they were designed to.