Frequently Asked Questions

It is a process in which dry ice particles are propelled at high velocities to impact and clean a surface. The particles are accelerated by compressed air, just as with other blasting systems. Today, most applications are able to use standard shop air, in the 30 - 100 psi range.

It depends on what you're cleaning. If you're 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. If you're removing a malleable or viscous coating such as oil, grease, or wax, the cleaning action is a flushing process similar to high pressure water. When the particles hit, they compress and mushroom out, creating a high velocity snow flow that actually flushes the surface.

Sandblasting is similar to using an ice pick whereas dry ice blasting is similar to using a spatula. Sand cuts or chisels away the contaminant. Dry ice lifts it away.

They are all tools in the toolbox. Consider that there are many types of hammers: ball peen; tack; claw; sledge; and so on. Could each do the job of the other? Perhaps, but the ideal toolbox would include each, because each has specific capabilities that it does better than any of the others.

It sublimates and returns to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. CO2 is a naturally occurring element that constitutes less than 1% of our atmosphere.

People sometimes think it disappears too, but it does not. All cleaning involves the relocation of dirt. When you mop a floor, the dirt moves from the floor to the mop to the water in the bucket. With dry ice, the dirt moves from an undesirable area to an area where you can better deal with it. If it is a dry substance, it generally falls to the floor where it is swept away or vacuumed during normal maintenance. If it is a wet substance like grease, you take a methodical approach similar to hosing down a driveway. You start at one end and guide the grease to the other end where it is vacuumed or squeegeed up.

Generally no, but it depends on the substrate. There is an energy threshold at which disbonding will occur and a threshold at which damage will occur. When the disbonding threshold is lower than the damage threshold, you can clean. If the reverse is true, damage can occur. Most of our applications deal with production equipment (cast iron, tool steel, tool grade aluminum), so there is no damage. We do have success with softer substrates such as plastics, wiring, pure copper, and fabrics, but these must be examined on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, but generally not as much as you might think. The amount of cooling is dependent upon three main factors: mass of the targeted surface, dwell time, and ice usage rate. Typically, a tire mold may start at 350°F and drop to 325°F during cleaning. With a very thin mold, the drop can be much greater. Generally, however, cooling is not a concern and only rarely does it affect cleaning performance.

Once again, it depends on the mass of the object you're blasting, your dry ice usage rate, and your dwell time. There will be condensation if you cool the substrate below the dewpoint (the dewpoint varies depending on local climate). Of course, if you're cleaning a hot mold it is rare to have condensation because you seldom cool the mold below the dewpoint. Condensation is not a factor 80% of the time. When it is, it can be dealt with quite easily. Use of a hot air knife can be highly effective.

It is made from liquid carbon dioxide. Dry ice 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 in the form of fluffy snow, is then compressed to form dry ice blocks, pellets, or nuggets.

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.

When you pull the trigger on the SDI-5, an actuator engages the ice, pushing it into the cutting face (the granulator) which produces particles that look much like raw sugar crystals, about 10 mils in size. Because the granulator only operates when the trigger is engaged, minimal waste is created. The SDI-5 is a patented system, the only blasting unit on the market capable of starting with block dry ice to create a blastable medium.

Yes. It is easier to transport. Block dry ice has a longer shelf life. Pellets have a higher surface-to-mass ratio which makes them more hydroscopic, meaning they attract water. When stored, this causes them to sublimate (turn into a gas) faster than block. Block machines are larger and more complex and consequently are much more expensive to purchase and operate.

In about 75% of the applications, users do not choose dry ice media based on its cleaning effectiveness because there is little or no difference. In the remaining cases, pellets work better in some of the applications, granules in others. Generally speaking, pellets are more effective with thick hard to remove contaminants as the greater mass behind each individual particle more readily travels all the way through the contaminant to disbond it. Because the granules are smaller than the pellets, they produce a significantly greater number of surface impacts and are therefore better at removing paint. In addition, they are better for cleaning intricate patterns or tiny openings such as microvents in coreboxes.

This is an important question to ask because the amount of dry ice you need to clean effectively can vary dramatically within the industry. We use approximately 1½-2 pounds per minute while the trigger is engaged. Of course, when you are cleaning, you won't be pulling the trigger constantly. At a rate of 2 pounds per minute with 50% trigger time, you would use 60 pounds of dry ice in an hour.

Since dry ice is -109°F, putting it in a freezer doesn't really help. The best way to extend the 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. DDP Technology bins are insulated and it holds up to 570 pounds of pellets. It features a hinged lid and includes casters to make it easy to move around the shop floor. The tote was specially designed to withstand the extreme temperatures, payload, and rugged use associated with the dry ice industry.

Dry ice blast cleaning originated at Lockheed in the 70's when a coatings engineer, Calvin Fong, was researching ways to strip paint off aircraft. The technology did not become commercially available until Alpheus bought the license and patents from Lockheed and introduced it to the marketplace in 1987.

It is typical to operate at about 90 psi with 130 cfm, however your needs will depend on your application. DDP Technology uses nozzles that clean effectively while using as little air as possible.

Most of our standard gun configurations are rated up to 125 psi which is well above the 90-100 psi used in the vast majority of applications.

One person can easily roll all the portable blaster around the shop floor without any special equipment. The equipment is small enough to carry up stairs for complete blasting freedom.

Yes. Noise is a function of air volume and air velocity. Within the nozzle, the stationary air is sheared by the high velocity air causing turbulence which creates noise. The level can range from 80 - 130 db. Hearing protection is required.

The range of cleaning applications for dry ice is phenomenal and is easily demonstrated in just a small sampling of our customer base: core boxes for Ford; delicate wiring in copy machines for Xerox; conveyors for Nabisco; tire molds for Michelin; dry ice blasting shines in cleaning production equipment online, because it eliminates the need for masking, cool down and disassembly. Users minimize downtime which maximizes production efficiency. We have achieved outstanding results cleaning production equipment for foundries, molded rubber producers, food processors, printers, and the semiconductor industry. Dry ice blasting is also widely used in the nuclear industry for decontamination. Anytime waste volume or health risks are a concern, the viability of CO2 should be examined. Because CO2 disappears on impact, it creates no additional waste. Competing processes such as grit blasting or solvents often present disposal problems or health hazards.

Dry ice Blasting will not etch or profile most surfaces. If you need to clean large quantities of small parts, CO2 is not generally as efficient as other alternatives such as ultrasonics. Because dry ice blasting is primarily a line-of-sight cleaning process, if you can't see what you need to clean, you probably can't clean it with dry ice.

Yes, however, the removal rate is dependent on a great many factors including: the underlying surface profile of the substrate; the thickness of the coating; the adhesive bond strength of the coating; and the cohesive strength of the coating (generally a function of age). Paint removal rates can vary dramatically, from 300 square feet/hour down to 1 square foot/hour. Generally speaking, if you have concerns with contamination, toxic substances, waste disposal, or substrate damage, dry ice blasting should be considered as a cleaning option. Otherwise, grit blasting is probably a more efficient method for paint removal.

A methodical approach similar to hosing down a driveway is required if dry ice is to be effective on these and other wet contaminants. You must start at one end and work the grease to the other end where it can pass through a grate or be vacuumed or squeegeed for disposal. We use a paper or plastic backdrop to catch the wet contaminant as it is removed from the substrate. dry ice doesn't dissolve the oil and doesn't make it disappear so you must have an acceptable way of handling it when it is relocated by the blasting process.

It tends to remove the loosely adhered oxidation and salts, but will not remove the deeply adhered oxidation. You will not get a white metal finish. To do that you have to remove the surface metal, something the dry ice blasting process cannot do. Of course in many applications, this is a major advantage because it preserves the surface integrity of the substrate.

As long as it strikes the surface head on, dry ice does not ricochet because it sublimates (turns into a gas) on impact. As for the contaminant, you usually do not see or feel it as it disbonds and leaves the substrate, however, it is removed with some force which is why eye protection is recommended at all times.

Yes. Any dry air process will generate static electricity and dry ice blasting is no exception. As long as both the blasting unit and the piece you are blasting is properly grounded, you are unlikely to have static discharge problems.

Yes, with proper ventilation. Because CO2 is 40% heavier than air, placement of exhaust vents at or near ground level is recommended when blasting in an enclosed area. In an open shop environment, existing ventilation is sufficient to prevent undue CO2 build-up. DDP Technology staff are trained in confined space entry and rescue.