How To Make A Hand Warmer

Did you ever purchase a hand warmer and wonder how in the world such a thing works? Well for those of you who've thought to make your own, we have some good news! We have recently created a kit that makes making a hand warmer a cinch. Through our tests and evaluations to come up with a perfect combination of materials, we have learned that making it is not rocket science. 

It's a safe way to experiment with exothermic reactions. An exothermic reaction is a chemical or physical reaction that is done by the release of heat. It gives out energy to its surroundings. The energy needed for the reaction to occur is less than the total energy released.

Hand warmers are small (sometimes disposable) packets which are held in the hand and produce heat to warm cold hands hence the name "hand warmers". They are commonly used in outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing to keep the extremities warm and assist insulated clothing. 

Air activated hand warmers contain iron, water, activated carbon or graphite (evenly distributes heat), vermiculite or perlite (water reservoir - spacer) and salt (catalyst) and produce heat from the exothermic oxidation of iron when exposed to air. They typically emit heat for 1 to 5 hours. You can preserve the heat if you cut off the air supply by putting the hand warmer into an ziploc bag. 

To make your own hand warmer, you're going to need a few materials. Iron powder is the main component and after numerous tests, we found that the type of iron powder used will have a major affect on the end result. The remaining materials needed are graphite, vermiculite/perlite, salt and water. Of course you will also need a pouch to put the materials into at the end. 

Start out by mixing 1 tablespoon of Iron Powder with 1 tablespoon of graphite. After they are thoroughly mixed, add  1 tablespoon of vermiculite/perlite. Next, add 1 teaspoon of salt. After the four are mixed. you can put them into a pouch and add a few drops of water. Once the materials are in the pouch and water has been added, gently squeeze the pouch in all areas and within a minute you will start to feel the heat from the exothermic reaction. Seal your pouch and enjoy your hand warmer!