Dry ice cleaning – how and for what purpose the process is to be used

Dry ice is carbon dioxide (CO2) in a solidified state. As a non-toxic, odorless gas, CO2 is also used in the beverage industry for longer shelf life and more freshness. For several years, a process has been used in which dry ice in the form of pellets (blasting agent) is used industrially for dry ice cleaning. The special advantage of frozen pellets is that they condense completely after blasting. What remains is ultimately the removed impurity. This can save considerable time and money.

Cleaning with dry ice

Blasting processes such as sandblasting have long been used for the efficient removal of dirt, grease and varnishes as well as other coatings from very different surfaces and materials. To produce dry ice, liquid carbon dioxide is fed from its tank into the so-called pelletizer (special machine) and relaxed there. From this, dry ice develops. The medium now has a temperature of minus 78.5 degrees Celsius. Then the pressing into dry ice pellets is carried out with the help of a die. These finally have a size of about three millimeters (similar to a grain of rice).

Dry ice cleaning process

The soiled layer on a surface is detached from the material using the thermal tension. The dry ice pellets then hit the material at an enormous speed during blasting, thereby completely wearing off the old coating.

Successful dry ice cleaning is therefore based on two processes:

• an efficient thermal effect
• mechanical treatment

The base surface of the material, unlike traditional sandblasting, is not damaged in any way. Immediately after the dry ice pellets are hit, they again turn into gas and evaporate. Note: No liquid remains!

A modern cleaning process with unbeatable advantages

By cleaning with dry ice pellets, objects can usually be reliably and safely freed from old coatings and dirt directly on site, without time-consuming and cost-intensive disassembly.

Other advantages of this modern process are, for example:

• no harmful substances such as solvents or similar blasting materials
• Dry ice does not conduct electricity, is not abrasive (grinding) or flammable
• various different contaminants such as oils/greases, release agents and paints as well as production residues are reliably removed
• Dry ice pellets are also suitable for cleaning active mechanical and active electrical machines/components without damage
• cleaning with dry ice is predestined for the food industry (including large bakeries, canteen kitchens).

Different areas of application for dry ice pellets

Cleaning by means of dry ice pellets can also be used in the private sector. Garden fences and terraces, garden furniture and upholstered furniture as well as entire facades can be freed from a wide variety of dirt easily, safely and quickly. Even cleaning the radiators can be done with dry ice to improve the efficiency of heat distribution. Furthermore, the tops and seat cushions of vehicles appear like new again with the help of dry ice cleaning.

In the industrial sector, dry ice cleaning is used almost unlimited possibilities. These include car rims and engines themselves as well as industrial lighting systems. Underbody protection and graffiti, inscriptions on vehicles and car paint in general as well as mould can be thoroughly removed using dry ice pellets. Airplanes, boat/ship hulls as well as roofs, tanks and even monuments can also be cleaned by dry ice without damage, but powerfully.