How Dry Ice Blasting Works

Removing oil and grease with dry ice blasting.

Three Primary Factors of Dry Ice Blasting
Ten Advantages of Dry Ice Blast Cleaning

Why it Works

Dry ice blasting uses compressed air to accelerate solid carbon dioxide (CO2) dry ice pellets to literally strip industrial equipment surfaces of a multitude of residues, including ink, glue, paint, food, rubber, mold release agents, dirt, grease, oil, and numerous other contaminants.

Dry ice blasting is similar in principle to sand blasting. Instead of sand, dry ice blasting uses high-density dry ice pellets which are propelled onto a surface using compressed air. 

Unlike sand blasting, dry ice blasting is non-abrasive.  When dry ice pellets hit a surface, such as a metal part contaminated with oil and grime, the dry ice pellets immediately sublimate [change in form from solid to gas]. 

The rapid expansion of the solid dry ice into gas causes a tiny "explosion" which loosens the contaminant [in this case, the oil and grime].  The extremely cold temperature [-109 degrees Fahrenheit] of the dry ice causes the bond of the contaminant to the metal part, in this example, to weaken.  This loosens the contaminant, freezes it in the process, and causes it to release from the metal part. 

Dry ice blast cleaning leaves no residue like sand blasting, and it leaves no toxic waste as solvents can.  It lets you skip clean-up problems associated with other cleaning methods.

History of Dry Ice Blasting

Dry ice blast cleaning originated in the aerospace industry at Lockheed. In August 1977, Calvin Fong received a patent on "Sandblasting with pellets of material capable of sublimation" and the technique became commercially available in 1987.

Originally, equipment for dry ice blasting required 200 psi capability of blasting equipment. With advances in the technology, many dry ice blasting applications only require 80 psi which makes dry ice blasting equipment affordable and practical for more cleaning applications.

Three primary factors of dry ice blasting:

Kinetic Energy is transferred by the accelerated dry ice pellet as it hits the surface during the dry ice blasting process. The dry ice pellet sublimates (changes from solid to gas) upon impact and is softer compared to other cleaning media such as sand, grit, or beads. Dry ice blasting is nonabrasive and will not damage most substrate materials or affect tool tolerances.

Thermal-Shock Effect occurs when dry ice pellets 109 degrees below zero strike a much warmer, contaminated surface during dry ice blasting. The extremely cold temperature of the dry ice causes the bond between the surface being cleaned and dirt, grime, and other residues to weaken. This effect aids in the release of the contaminant when struck by the dry ice pellets during dry ice blasting.

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) and so fast that a micro-explosion occurs, taking off dirt and grime in the dry ice blasting process.

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Ten Advantages of Dry Ice Blast Cleaning

Dry ice blasting uses non-toxic, non-hazardous, high-density dry ice pellets in a high-velocity airflow to blast away unwanted surface materials. On impact, the pellets instantly sublimate without generating any secondary waste, so dry ice blasting is a cleaner way to clean. Dry ice blasting also meets EPA, USDA, and FDA guidelines.

#1 - Less clean-up waste

Frequently the “clean-up” from your current cleaning method is worse than the problem itself. See Skip Cleanup Problems. Dry ice blasting solves that problem by eliminating your secondary waste. Dry ice pellets do the job, then simply disappear, eliminating the high disposal costs associated with other materials.

#2 - Extend equipment life

Dry ice pellets used in dry ice blasting reduce the equipment and component wear that normally occurs with the use of conventional blast media such as sand, glass beads and walnut shells.

#3 - Clean in place

Save time, cost, and labor by cleaning equipment in place. With dry ice blasting, disassembly can be largely eliminated. This reduces the changes of damaging equipment during disassembly, reduces injury and fatique of workers, and saves valuable hours or days by reducing down time.

#4 - Clean more thoroughly with dry ice blasting

Dry ice blast cleaning can reach places that other methods cannot, reaching nooks and crannies that are difficult to reach with brushes or chemicals.

#5 - Reduce or eliminate damage to equipment

Dry ice blasting won't pit or abrade surfaces like other blasting techniques such as sand, glass beads or walnut shells. Dry ice blast cleaning is non-abrasive because as the dry ice pellets strike the surface to be cleaned, they immediately become soft and sublimate [evaporate], after loosening the contaminant from the part to be cleaned.

#6 - Save space - No need for a dedicated cleaning area

Dry ice blasting units are portable, so they go to where go where the equipment to be cleaned is located, instead of bringing the equipment to the cleaning area.

#7 - A safe cleaning environment

Dry ice is non-toxic unlike many solvents used in the cleaning industry such as TCA. The non-toxic dry ice blasting system will significantly decrease employee exposure to hazardous chemical agents and other dangerous cleaning methods. Health risks are reduced, and operator safety is enhanced, creating a safer working environment overall.

#8 - Dry cleaning

Dry ice blasting cleans thoroughly and leaves your equipment dry. It works without chemical solvents, without lubricants and without water, so it's the perfect cleaning solution for electrical equipment or other water-senstivive applications.

#9 - Non-polluting and environmentally friendly

As a cleaning agent, dry ice simply disappears after it's used in dry ice blast cleaning. Read about dry ice for more information on the properties of dry ice. Dry ice doesn't become a toxic waste or a disposal problem like many popular cleaning solvents.

#10 - Inhibits bacteria & mold growth

Dry ice is a natural bacterial and fungal growth inhibitor because it's -109 degrees Fahrenheit, which kills bacteria and mold [fungi] upon contact. When you clean with dry ice blasting, you're also disinfecting.

Uses for Dry Ice Blasting

Mold Cleaning Rubber and plastic surfaces HDPE and PET containers Reaction foam Electrical Equipment Motors—winding, armature Switch gears Transformers Sub-stations Circuit boards Foundry Core boxes, including screens Permanent aluminum molds Automotive Parts Manufacturing and Assembly Equipment cleaning Robotic welding equipment Painting systems cleaning Mold cleaning Tire/rim assembly equipment Rubber from test and alignment equipment Windshield and body sealants

Baking and Food Processing Baking ovens Wafer oven plates Conveyors, mixers Printing Press cleaning Gears, decks, guides Anilox rolls Aviation (FAA Approved) Landing gear Brake components Engine cleaning General Maintenance and Compliance Cleaning Surface preparation for inspection and testing Plant and equipment (complete removal of oil,   grease, adhesives, etc.) Fire restoration Mold remediation [black mold]