The ingredients of CG and the mechanism of action are not secrets. Kaolin is an inert substance and the chief thing that will ruin the CG dressing is exposure to moisture. This is from the manufacturer's website but it is common knowledge among the tactical medical crowd and there is no mystery.

"3. How are QuikClot dressings different from surgical gauze?

Although QuikClot dressings look like and are as intuitive to use as surgical dressings, they are impregnated with kaolin, an inert mineral that has been known for centuries to initiate the clotting cascade. While surgical gauze and manual pressure more often than not initiate the clotting cascade, this process is sped up in the presence of kaolin.

4. Do QuikClot dressings work on the clotting cascade?

YES. Contact between kaolin and blood immediately initiates the clotting process by activating Factor XII.

This reaction leads to the transformation of Factor XII, Factor XI and prekallikrein to their activated forms

In addition, Factor XII can activate prekallikrein even without kaolin, but kaolin presence markedly enhanced the rate of activation.

The activation of both Factor XI and Factor XII leads to the rest of the coagulation cascade."