Flameless heater product for ready-to-eat meals and process for making same

摘要

A water-activated, exothermic-chemical heater for packaging in a plastic heating bag is produced by methods which allow the heater material to be loosely placed in the heater while retaining the heating material uniformly distributed over the heater by cup-shaped or through cavities in a rigid member covered by a porous, wettable material on at least one side. Alternatively, the heater material is loosed placed in small bags made in a flexible porous material, with the necessary system rigidity provided by a cardboard or polymeric outer cover on one or both sides of the flexible porous material. Food-grade acid anhydride or free acid can be incorporated into the heater material to maintain proper pH. Flammability control can be achieved by blending a known fire retardant into the heater pad materials.