| Item | Paper Cooling Pad (Traditional) | Plastic Evaporative Cooling Pad (New Type) |
| Material | Plant fiber + resin glue | PP/PVC plastic honeycomb/corrugated board |
| Cooling Efficiency | High (good water absorption, fast evaporation) | Slightly lower or similar (depends on structure) |
| Service Life | 2–5 years | 8–15 years |
| Corrosion Resistance | Average; sensitive to acid, alkali and disinfectants | Excellent; resistant to acid, alkali and disinfectants |
| Mold/Moss Resistance | Prone to mold and moss growth | Less mold and moss |
| Risk Resistance to ASFV/PRRS | Easy to trap dirt; hard to disinfect thoroughly | Easy to rinse; thorough disinfection possible |
| Cleaning Difficulty | Hard to wash; fragile under flushing | High-pressure washable; durable |
| Clogging Condition | Easy to clog with dust, feathers and manure | Not easy to clog; easy to unclog |
| Price | Low | Higher unit price |
| Maintenance Cost | High (annual replacement, fragile) | Low (long service life) |
2.1 Material
•Paper: Multi-layer kraft paper + phenolic resin glue, honeycomb structure, strong water absorption.
•Plastic: Engineering plastics such as PP and PVC, corrugated/honeycomb structure, non-water-absorbent, relying on surface water film for evaporation.
2.2 Cooling Efficiency
•Paper: Fast water absorption, large evaporation area, better cooling effect, and rapid humidity rise.
•Plastic: Evaporation relies on surface water film, with slightly lower efficiency, but the gap is small; high-quality structures achieve nearly equal performance.
2.3 Service Life (Biggest Difference)
•Paper: Generally 2–5 years; often deteriorates within 1 year due to poor water quality, frequent disinfection and repeated washing.
•Plastic: Normally 8–15 years; no rot, no pulverization, no brittle fracture.
2.4 Mold, Moss and Disease Prevention
•Paper: Extremely prone to mold and moss under long-term damp conditions, easy to trap dirt and residues. Unfavorable for respiratory diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASFV) and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS); difficult to disinfect completely.
•Plastic: Smooth surface, non-water-absorbent, less mold and moss. High-pressure washable and disinfectable, more compliant with biosecurity standards.
2.5 Disinfectant and Acid-Alkali Resistance
•Paper: Sensitive to disinfectants, acids and alkalis; frequent disinfection accelerates decay.
•Plastic: Resistant to glutaraldehyde, potassium peroxymonosulfate, chlorine preparations and other common farm disinfectants.
2.6 Cleaning and Maintenance
•Paper: Not suitable for high-pressure washing; easy to damage; clogging usually requires replacement.
•Plastic: Direct high-pressure water gun washing allowed; easy to unclog and highly durable.
2.7 Total Cost
•Paper: Low upfront cost, but high total cost due to annual replacement, labor and downtime.
•Plastic: Higher one-time investment, but more cost-effective in the long run due to long service life.
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