Dry Ice Blasting
Dry Ice Blasting | Benefits | Uses | Other Applications |
What is Dry Ice Blasting?
Dry ice blasting is a relatively new cleaning process using solid CO2 pellets (known as dry ice). Because of the temperature difference between the dry ice particles (-109°F / -78.5°C) and the surface being treated, thermal shock occurs during the dry ice blasting process. This breaks down the bond between the substrate and the contaminant to be removed from it. The dry ice vaporizes on impact, so no secondary waste stream is created.
A number of industries worldwide have discovered the advantages of this precision cleaning process. Applications range from heavy slag removal to delicate semiconductor and circuit board cleaning. Read on.
How Dry Ice Blasting Works
Unlike the conventional, waste generating surface cleaning methods like chemical cleaning, high-pressure water blasting, sandblasting, grit blasting and steam cleaning, Cryo Kinetics offers an environmentally safe alternative for mold remediation, fire restoration and general industrial cleaning applications.
Cryo Kinetics' technology utilizes small, rice-sized, particles of dry ice as the primary cleaning media. Using high velocity air, these particles of dry ice are directed at high velocity towards the surface being cleaned. Upon impacting, the dry ice particles sublime, converting from a solid into a gas, leaving only the removed surface contaminant for disposal. This Cryo Kinetics dry ice cleaning technology will not generate any secondary waste stream from the cleaning media.
Dry ice blasting lets you:
- Remove adhesives, lubricants, paints and other substances from products and equipment without damaging the substrate
- Clean assembled components and equipment, eliminating teardown/rebuild time
- Reduce hazardous waste streams by replacing chemical solvents
- Improve maintenance of sensors and computer components, tooling, hot ovens, conveyor rollers, spray booths and more
- Manage downtime by cleaning your equipment on line
Dry Ice Cleaning is a dry, nonabrasive, non-conductive process that leaves no residual media to clean up. It's the pure and powerful solution for your cleaning and maintenance needs.
In rest of the world, the dry ice cleaning method is quickly becoming favoured due tremendous environmental regulations and production downtime. These benefits are accentuated due to the performance gains through dry ice blasting -- little or no production downtime, quality of clean and minimized damaged to equipment.
Three primary factors of dry ice blasting
Kinetic Energy
The accelerated dry ice pellet transfers kinetic Entergy as it hits the surface during the blasting process. The dry ice pellet sublimates (changes from solid to gas) upon impact. Due to its softer and nonabrasive nature, most substrate materials will not damage or affect tool tolerances compared to other cleaning media such as sand, grit, or beads.
Thermal-Shock Effect
Thermal-Shock Effect occurs when dry ice pellets at -78.5 °c strike a much warmer, contaminated surface during blasting. The extremely cold temperature of the dry ice causes the bond between the surface being cleaned i.e dirt, grime, and other residues to weaken. This effect aids in the release of the contaminant
Thermal-Kinetic Effect
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) which leads to a micro-explosion, taking off dirt and grime and other residues.
