Dry ice blasting uses non-toxic, non-hazardous, high-density dry ice pellets in a high-velocity airflow to blast away unwanted surface materials.

Why Dry Ice Blasting

Safer and Environmentally Friendly

Dry Ice Blasting or cryogenic blast cleaning (also CO2 blast cleaning) as it is called by some, reduces or eliminates the need for toxic solvents. This results in less employee exposure to solvents and reduced corporate liability. Solvent reductions are a result of using this alternative process and are necessary to comply with ever-changing environmental regulations. This process also results in improved worker safety. When removing hazardous material with other blasting media such as sand, glass beads, walnut shells, water, etc., both contaminant and blast material must be disposed of as toxic waste. Because dry ice (CO2) sublimates on contact, no secondary waste is generated

History of Dry Ice Blasting

Dry ice blast cleaning originated in the aerospace industry at Lockheed. In August 1977, Calvin Fong received a patent on "Iceblasting with pellets of material capable of sublimation" and the technique became commercially available in 1987.

Originally, equipment for dry ice blasting required 200 psi capability of blasting equipment. With advances in the technology, many dry ice blasting applications only require 80 psi which makes dry ice blasting more practical for cleaning applications.

Three primary factors of dry ice blasting:

Kinetic Energy is transferred by the accelerated dry ice pellet as it hits the surface during the dry ice blasting process. The dry ice pellet sublimates (changes from solid to gas) upon impact and is softer compared to other cleaning media such as sand, grit, or beads. Dry ice blasting is nonabrasive and will not damage most substrate materials or affect tool tolerances.

Thermal-Shock Effect occurs when dry ice pellets 109 degrees below zero strike a much warmer, contaminated surface during dry ice blasting. The extremely cold temperature of the dry ice causes the bond between the surface being cleaned and dirt, grime, and other residues to weaken. This effect aids in the release of the contaminant when struck by the dry ice pellets during dry ice blasting.

Thermal-Kinetic Effect combines the impact of sublimation and the rapid heat transfer discussed above. During dry ice blasting, when the dry ice pellet hits the contaminated surface, the vapor expands so much (up to 800 times the volume of the pellet) and so fast that a micro-explosion occurs, taking off dirt and grime in the dry ice blasting process.

----------------------------------------

Ten Advantages of Dry Ice Blast Cleaning

Dry ice blasting uses non-toxic, non-hazardous, high-density dry ice pellets in a high-velocity airflow to blast away unwanted surface materials. On impact, the pellets instantly sublimate without generating any secondary waste, so dry ice blasting is a cleaner way to clean. Dry ice blasting also meets EPA, USDA, and FDA guidelines.

#1 - Less clean-up waste

Frequently the “clean-up” from your current cleaning method is worse than the problem itself. See Skip Cleanup Problems. Dry ice blasting solves that problem by eliminating your secondary waste. Dry ice pellets do the job, then simply disappear, eliminating the high disposal costs associated with other materials.

#2 - Extend equipment life

Dry ice pellets used in dry ice blasting reduce the equipment and component wear that normally occurs with the use of conventional blast media such as sand, glass beads and walnut shells.

#3 - Clean in place

Save time, cost, and labor by cleaning equipment in place. With dry ice blasting, disassembly can be largely eliminated. This reduces the changes of damaging equipment during disassembly, reduces injury and fatique of workers, and saves valuable hours or days by reducing down time.

#4 - Clean more thoroughly with dry ice blasting

Dry ice blast cleaning can reach places that other methods cannot, reaching nooks and crannies that are difficult to reach with brushes or chemicals.

#5 - Reduce or eliminate damage to equipment

Dry ice blasting won't pit or abrade surfaces like other blasting techniques such as sand, glass beads or walnut shells. Dry ice blast cleaning is non-abrasive because as the dry ice pellets strike the surface to be cleaned, they immediately become soft and sublimate [evaporate], after loosening the contaminant from the part to be cleaned.

#6 - Save space - No need for a dedicated cleaning area

Dry ice blasting units are portable, so they go to where the equipment to be cleaned is located, instead of bringing the equipment to the cleaning area.

#7 - A safe cleaning environment

Dry ice is non-toxic unlike many solvents used in the cleaning industry such as TCA. The non-toxic dry ice blasting system will significantly decrease employee exposure to hazardous chemical agents and other dangerous cleaning methods. Health risks are reduced, and operator safety is enhanced, creating a safer working environment overall.

#8 - Dry cleaning

Dry ice blasting cleans thoroughly and leaves your equipment dry. It works without chemical solvents, without lubricants and without water, so it's the perfect cleaning solution for electrical equipment or other water-senstivive applications.

#9 - Non-polluting and environmentally friendly

As a cleaning agent, dry ice simply disappears after it's used in dry ice blast cleaning. Dry ice doesn't become a toxic waste or a disposal problem like many popular cleaning solvents.

#10 - Inhibits bacteria & mold growth

Dry ice is a natural bacterial and fungal growth inhibitor because it's -109 degrees Fahrenheit, which kills bacteria and mold [fungi] upon contact. When you clean with dry ice blasting, you're also disinfecting.