Dry Ice Blasting FAQs – What You Need To Know

Dry ice blasting is one of the most effective and efficient ways to clean unwanted surfaces off industrial equipment and surfaces. But how much do you know about dry ice blasting? Here are some basics.

Q. What is dry ice blasting?

A. Dry ice blasting is a non-destructive way to clean and remove unwanted coatings from industrial surfaces using extremely cold (-109.3° F) dry ice pellets (the solid form of carbon dioxide) delivered at high speed via compressed air.

Q. What can dry ice blasting remove?

A. From paint, rust, adhesives and syrups to oils, powders, mold and bacteria, dry ice blasting will remove just about any surface contaminant.

Q. How does dry ice blasting work?

A. Fine dry ice particles are “blasted” onto a surface using a dry ice blasting machine (imagine a high-tech pressure washer that shoots dry ice rather than water). When these particles come in contact with an unwanted coating, the contaminants freeze and fracture; eventually, a combination of heat transfer, gas expansion, and impact force will remove the unwanted coatings.

Q. What are the advantages of dry ice blasting compared to other methods?

A. Dry ice blasting enjoys significant advantages over other cleaning methods like sand and soda blasting, water cleaning, and chemical cleanup. Here are just some of dry ice blasting advantages.

• It minimizes surface damage – Dry ice blasting is non-abrasive, non-flammable, and non-conductive, which means it won’t abrade, wear, pit, or erode equipment surfaces. Other methods of cleaning can damage surfaces and remove more than just unwanted debris. Control panels, glass, electrical wiring, and other delicate surfaces can all be safely cleaned with dry ice.
• It’s eco-friendly – Some or all of the media used in dry ice blasting can be left behind, flowing down public drains into sewer systems, lakes, and streams, or seeping into the soil. Dry ice blasting meets USDA, FDA and EPA guidelines and eliminates the expense of environmental cleanup.
• It’s safe for employees – With dry ice blasting, cleanup crews won’t be exposed to chemicals or grit media.
• It produces little secondary waste – With dry ice blasting, all you will need to clean is what you are trying to remove.
• It cleans better – Dry ice blasting simply does a better of job of cleaning equipment, both visually and at the microbe level.
• It doesn’t contaminate your equipment – Dry ice blasting leaves behind no water or chemical residue – which means no additional cleanup is needed.
• It gets everywhere – Dry ice blasting makes it easier to get into hard to reach nooks and crannies.
• It works quickly – Dry ice blasting works faster than other cleaning methods, which means less downtime.
• No disassembly is required – With dry ice blasting, your equipment can remain built and in place, which saves time and allows more frequent cleaning.
• It’s efficient – Dry ice blasting is not as labor intensive as cleaning with water, media, or chemicals.

Q. What industries use dry ice blasting?

A. Dry ice blasting is used across many industries, including but not limited to:

• automotive
• manufacturing
• industrial cleaning
• foundry/metal working
• petrochemical
• power generation
• food processing
• pulp and paper manufacture
• general maintenance

Whether you need to clean food processing equipment, electronics, electric motors, or just about any other type of industrial equipment, dry ice will do the job faster, safer, and more completely than just about any other method. Why not give it a try?

Need dry ice dry ice pellets in Rochester and Buffalo, NY? Irish Carbonic has them. Contact us today to learn more or place an order!