How It Works
The concept is synonymous with all blast cleaning applications where an ‘abrasive’ is accelerated in a stream of compressed air. Dry ice blasting uses solid carbon dioxide (CO²) as the blast media and due to its unique properties provides a non-abrasive, ecological ‘zero-waste’ alternative to the more ‘traditional’ methods and in comparison, is less intrusive and less aggressive even than the ’least-harmful’ soda blasting.
By its very low temperature (-79°C) dry ice provides potent thermal energy that on impacting the surface provokes an immediate detachment of the contamination – the so-called ‘thermal shock’ effect and as the dry ice pellets immediately sublime on contact (turning from solid to a harmless gas), this doesn’t create any additional waste.
Chemical-free
- Eliminates the need for chemical storage on site
- Chemical handling issues removed from personnel
- No post-cleaning chemical residues
Reduced wear
- Reduced wear as process is gentle and non-abrasive
- Highly effective in reaching areas other methods miss
- Ideal for moulds and dies that need accurate surfaces
No liquids
- Saves water consumption in water sensitive areas
- Dry ice sublimes (changes into gas) on contact so no wet floors are left behind
- No evaporation means no change in relative humidity to affect other processes
Reduced downtime
- In-situ cleaning with mobile units reduces non-operational time significantly
- No drying out time required
- Reduced dismantling of machinery means less downtime