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Re:Zeolite retains heat indefinitely, absorbs 4x more heat t... by Splines on Wednesday June 06, 2012 @03:28PM (#4075676)
On that topic, does anyone know how these things work?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Gel-Reusable-Hand-Warmer/dp/B0...

I've seen them in person and they're remarkable if you've never encountered them before.

Re:Zeolite retains heat indefinitely, absorbs 4x more heat t... by limmeau on Wednesday June 06, 2012 @03:35PM (#4075722)
I think there's a saturated solution of sodium acetate inside. The metal clickie causes the solution to crystallize, which happens to happen exothermically.

(IANAchemist)

Re:Zeolite retains heat indefinitely, absorbs 4x more heat t... by vlisivka on Thursday June 07, 2012 @05:21AM (#4078178)
Can I use sodium acetate to heat my energy passive home (which I will build soon) by heating it at day in Trombe wall and discharging it at night?
Re:Zeolite retains heat indefinitely, absorbs 4x more heat t... by xutopia on Thursday June 07, 2012 @09:37AM (#4078935)
It's most likely unwieldy. Sometimes you can cause the exothermic effect to occur without you wanting it by a vibration or shock.
Re:Zeolite retains heat indefinitely, absorbs 4x more heat t... by hexagonal on Wednesday June 06, 2012 @03:35PM (#4075719)
Re:Zeolite retains heat indefinitely, absorbs 4x more heat t... by excuse-me on Wednesday June 06, 2012 @03:38PM (#4075738)
They are a supersaturated Sodium acetate solution. Liquids give off energy when they freeze and take energy in when they melt.

When you heat these and melt them they can stay stable as a saturated liquid until you create a small site for them to start freezing around - they then give off energy when they freeze. The 'clicker' is all that's required to localy concentrate it enough to form a single crystal seed to start the freezing