Paper evaporative cooling vs. plastic cooling pads: Which is more economical and durable?

Material:Paper evaporative cooling pads usually use special wood pulp fiber paper, which is processed to form a porous structure. This material has good water absorption and air permeability.
Plastic evaporative cooling pads are generally made of polypropylene (PP) plastic material, and a honeycomb or grid-like structure is formed through a specific process to increase the air contact area.

Performance characteristics:Cooling effect: Both can achieve cooling through water evaporation, but the porous fiber structure of paper cooling pads can make the water distribution more uniform. Under the same conditions, the cooling effect may be more significant, which can reduce the air temperature by 5-15℃. The cooling effect of plastic cooling pads is also good, but it may be slightly inferior in the cooling range due to differences in material and structure.

Durability:The material of paper cooling pads is relatively fragile and easily affected by factors such as water immersion, mildew, and insect pests. The service life is generally about 1-3 years and needs to be replaced regularly.
Plastic cooling pads have good water resistance, corrosion resistance and aging resistance. Under normal use, the service life can reach 5-8 years, or even longer, and they are relatively more durable.

Environmental protection: The raw materials of paper cooling pads are mostly natural wood pulp fibers, which are degradable and environmentally friendly. After being discarded, they can decompose quickly in the natural environment and reduce garbage emissions.
Plastic cooling pads made of degradable plastics have greatly improved environmental protection performance. Plastics are recyclable materials. After the water curtain reaches its service life, it can be recycled and processed into new plastic products to achieve resource recycling, which helps to reduce the demand for new plastic raw materials and reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources such as petroleum.

Cost: The production process of paper cooling pads is relatively simple and the cost of raw materials is low, so its initial purchase cost may be relatively low. However, due to its short service life, it needs to be replaced regularly. After long-term use, the comprehensive cost will increase.
The production of plastic cooling pads requires certain technology and equipment investment, and the cost of raw materials is relatively high, so the initial purchase price is usually higher than that of paper cooling pads. However, due to their long service life and low replacement frequency, the overall cost may have certain advantages in the long run, depending on the usage scenario and usage time.