Dry ice blasting procedure in a few words

Dry ice blasting processes such as sand blasting for removing paint, dirt, grease and similar depositions on surfaces are well known. For some years now, dry ice pellets have also been used industrially as an effective blast media. Main advantage: the ice pellets sublimate completely after blasting. The only remaining is the removed dirt, this way, waste is reduced considerably and time is saved.

What is dry ice cleaning?

Dry ice is pellets CO₂ (carbon dioxide) in compressed form: CO₂ is an odourless non toxic gas. In the beverage industry, it is added to beer and mineral water in order to preserve the fresh taste for a longer period of time and to extend stability. CO₂ is also used in the food industry or in aeroplanes: here it is used for cooling meat and other non durable goods.

How is dry ice made?

Pressurised liquid carbon dioxide is guided into a special machine from a tank, the so called pelletizer (into a storage bin) and pressure is released. As a result, the “snow” form of dry ice is produced. This “snow”, with a temperature of –78,5°C, is then extruded through a die, the result: dry ice pellets the size of a rice grain.

Who supplies dry ice pellets?

Dry ice is comprehensively available at gas suppliers and can be kept in specific storage bins for up to seven days. Just ask us for the reference suppliers list!

How does cleaning with dry ice work?

The pellets are trandported from the hopper by means of a dosing mechanism to the hopper exit. The sub pressure created in the blast gun causes the pellets to be sucked in gently and then accelerated to a speed up to 300m/s. By using specially developed high performance nozzles the blasting media is propelled onto the surface to be cleaned. On contact, the deposition, because of the extreme low temperature of the CO₂ (-78,5°C) contracts and cracks.

As a result of the tension caused by the sub temperature, the deposition layer is loosened. The high speed of the following pellets finally remove the deposition. Therefore, the succes is based on two factors: on the one hand, the thermal effect, on the other hand, the mechanical effect. However, the original substrate is not damaged unlike the sand blasting process!

The dry ice pellets, immediately on impact sublimate completely to gas and are released into the atmosphere from where they initially came. Please note: no fluids remain behind! The ECOTRUST state-of-the-art blasting units are operated pneumatically. Therefore an electrical point is not necessary.