This process is expanding around the world. Our system shoots small rice size pieces of dry ice out of a jet nozzle with compressed air. It works somewhat like sandblasting or pressurized water or steam blasting, with superior results. The frigid temperature of dry ice -109.3°F or -78.5°C "blasting" against the material to be removed, causes it to shrink and loose adhesion from its sub surface. Additionally when the dry ice penetrates through the material to be removed, it comes in contact with the warmer underlying surface and converts back to carbon dioxide. The gas has 800 times greater volume and expands behind the material speeding up its removal. Paint, oil, grease, asphalt, tar, decals, soot, dirt, ink, resins, and adhesives are some of the materials removed by this procedure. Only the removed material must be disposed of, as the dry ice sublimes into the atmosphere.
Replaces Sandblasting:
This method is superior to sandblasting because the dry ice is soft enough not to pit or damage the |
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underlying surface. The dry ice quickly sublimes into the air and only the removed material must be cleaned up. Dry Ice blasting eliminates equipment damage in two ways. First, dry ice does not erode or wear away the targeted surface as traditional grit media and wire brushes do. This means that surface integrity and critical tolerances are preserved and equipment will not have to be replaced due to surface erosion common with sand, glass beads, and other abrasive media. Second, with traditional cleaning methods, equipment is often damaged (bumped, dropped, etc.) while in transit to or from the dedicated cleaning area. Instead most equipment and machinery can be cleaned while in place.
Replaces Steam/Water:
Dry ice blasting is also an improvement over steam and water blasting for several reasons:
Electrical parts and generators
can be immediately put back
into service used without
waiting to dry.
Radioactive |
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contaminate removal doesn't require large storage containers for contaminated water. Mildew and mold removal are far more complete with less chance of regeneration due to moisture. Dry ice blasting removes more algae, sea slime, and mussels on boat hulls, than water blasting. Water blasting allows organic matter to reattach
Replaces Solvents:
Finally Dry Ice blasting is used in place of many environmentally damaging solvents. These chemicals include trichlorethane, methylene chloride, perchlorethane, orthodichlorobenzene, cresylic acid, and caustic solutions. Since dry ice evaporates completely as a gas it leaves no wastes. Only the material being removed must be disposed of. When dry ice cleaning replaces hazardous chemical cleaners the disposal cost of that chemical is eliminated. Tinker Air Force Base reported it eliminated hazardous waste disposal associated with 17,000 gallons of chemicals no longer used each year because of dry ice cleaning. |
