Salt water activated MRE heaters ??

[henner]

Does anyone have any information on the salt water activated MRE heaters. They are produced by Truetech in NY. Has anyone seen or used them. Do they realy need to be activated with salt water & what would be the purpose for that ? Sorry I don't have a picture of one.

[Synthpeter]

I'm sure the chemists here could give a better answer, but as far as I know there is already salt in the regular FRH heater packs.
I believe this is a concern for safety if water should leak in (might also be more susceptible to decreasing efficiency if there's a minor puncture in the bag and humidity can get in).
Not sure if this affects hazard rating for shipping them etc...
Using heaters that requires salt water probably also puts less requirements on the packaging since it doesn't have to be that durable (due to the above reason).
The salt is a catalyst in the reaction so adding that "manually" is just like adding what's already in the regular FRHs from the beginning. I think that's the only difference.

FRH: (iron+magnesium+salt) + (water)
Saltwater activated heater: (iron+magnesium) + (water+salt)

The sum is the same

I think you can add a tiny bit of salt to to the water when you activate regular FRHs if you want to boost them a bit, but don't take my word for it.

Or I'm totally wrong.
Eistee and Linda feel free to correct me

[BTemple]

Salt water adds a little extra catalyst to the reaction in an FRH compared to water on it's own. An FRH works like a big galvanic cell, where a reaction of salt, water, iron and magnesium or aluminium creates corrosion to the metal filings/dust, and that creates energy, and then that reaction happens a great number of times.
You can also use some regular table salt to bring an older FRH back to life a bit

[BTemple]

I'm sure the chemists here could give a better answer, but as far as I know there is already salt in the regular FRH heater packs.
I believe this is a concern for safety if water should leak in (might also be more susceptible to decreasing efficiency if there's a minor puncture in the bag and humidity can get in).
Not sure if this affects hazard rating for shipping them etc...
Using heaters that requires salt water probably also puts less requirements on the packaging since it doesn't have to be that durable (due to the above reason).
The salt is a catalyst in the reaction so adding that "manually" is just like adding what's already in the regular FRHs from the beginning. I think that's the only difference.

FRH: (iron+magnesium+salt) + (water)
Saltwater activated heater: (iron+magnesium) + (water+salt)

The sum is the same

I think you can add a tiny bit of salt to to the water when you activate regular FRHs if you want to boost them a bit, but don't take my word for

Or I'm totally wrong.
Eistee and Linda feel free to correct me

Just realized you posted this while I was writing my own response. Haha

[Synthpeter]

Just realized you posted this while I was writing my own response. Haha

Hehe, well it was similar to my reply so I wasn't totally off then at least
I just have the gift of needing 5 times the space to explain stuff...

[housil]

The military ones work with regular water, the civilian ones need salted water that comes with the heaters.

It´s as Synthpeter wrote.

[henner]

I did a little more research on these. Truetech is now Luxfer Magtech Inc. They also make ( Heater Meals ) A civilian MRE. There is a small packet of salt water inside the heater pouch. I did also find their spec sheet and the heaters with the salt water pouch inside are classified as Dangerous goods & will be a problem in shipping.

[henner]

Thanks for the all the information.

[housil]

They also make ( Heater Meals ) A civilian MRE.

They call them self the inventor of the FRH.

[henner]

Thank you housil for posting the pictures.