How does dry ice blasting work?

Dry ice blasting cleans surfaces through a combination of kinetic energy, extreme temperature change and sublimation (the solid dry ice conversion to gas).

Why would I use dry ice blasting instead of a traditional blasting media?

Dry ice blasting presents a non-toxic, non-abrasive, non-conductive, “green” cleaning option that creates no secondary waste in the cleaning process. Because cleaning can often be done on equipment that is hot and on-line, it can greatly reduce time and labor costs.

Will dry ice blasting damage my application?

With the correct equipment and settings, dry ice blasting is completely non-abrasive.

Does dry ice blasting change the temperature of its target?

Yes, but the amount of cooling is rarely an issue and is dependent on the size of the targeted surface, the time spent blasting that area and the rate of dry ice consumption. Most targeted areas return to room temperature just moments after dry ice blasting is completed.

Can I use blasting dry ice to clean hot tools on-line?

Yes. One of the biggest advantages of dry ice blasting is that you can clean your equipment as is, without disassembling and reassembling, which decreases downtime and labor costs.

Faster & More Effective

Compared to manual cleaning with solvents and a wire brush, dry ice blasting can cut cleaning time, leading to reduced costs. With dry ice blasting, you can clean your equipment, molds, and dies on line and “in place.” There is no longer any need to disassemble, mask, and then reassemble large complex machinery. Downtime is minimized, labor costs are reduced, and productivity increased.

A Dry Process

Since dry ice sublimates (turns into carbon dioxide gas) upon contact, the process is dry. Dry ice blasting is non-conductive and safe for electrical applications where using water may not be advisable or permitted.

No Media Waste

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

Non-Abrasive

The non-abrasive nature of dry ice means that cleaning won’t damage sensitive parts or production equipment, extending the useful life of equipment and minimizing the chances of defective products.

Environmentally Friendly & Safe

Dry ice cleaning is a “green” process that uses small pellets of recycled carbon dioxide to clean a surface. The pellets sublimate (turning from solid directly to gas) during the cleaning process. The carbon dioxide gas is absorbed by trees and plants and converted into carbon (plant growth) and oxygen. Dry ice blasting is really “green” recycling at its best.

Dry ice blasting does not contribute to greenhouse gasses and no hazardous wastes are produced. With basic safety precautions, the work process is safe. No ozone-depleting chemicals are used and there is no exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).