Dry Ice Blasting

What Is Dry Ice cleaning?
It is the process in which dry ice particles are propelled at high speed to impart and clean surfaces. The particles are accelerated by compressed air, just the same as other blasting systems. Most applications are able to use standard shop air, in the 80-100 p.s.i. range.

How does It work?
It depends on what you are cleaning. If you are removing a brittle contaminant such as paint, the process creates a compression tension wave between the coating and the substrate. This wave has enough energy to overcome the bonding strength and literally pop the coating off from the inside out.

What happens to the dry ice once it strikes the surface?
It sublimates and returns to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. CO2 is a naturally occurring element.

How is dry ice made?
It is made from liquid CO2, which exists as a liquid only under high pressure. When it drops to ambient pressure (the normal pressure that surrounds us), approximately half turns to gas and half turns to solid. The solid, usually is the form of fluffy snow, is then compressed to form dry ice blocks, pellets, or nuggets.

How are dry ice pellets made?
Pellets are made by taking liquid CO2 from a pressurized storage tank and dropping it to ambient pressure to produce snow. The snow is then pushed through a die to make pellets.

How do I store my dry ice?
Since dry ice is -109 degree F, putting it in a freezer at 32 degrees F doesn't really help. The best way to extend your shelf life is to store the ice in an insulated bin. Depending on the quality of the bin and how much ice you are storing, your loss due to sublimation should range from 2% to 10% per day.