Earlier, traditional cleaning methods such as sand blasting, solvents and high pressure water blasting were used to keep the equipments clean and in proper shape. But with the changing time, the traditional methods have become a thing of the past. Now, the modern companies are looking for new ways to keep their equipment clean. Of all the methods, it is the revolutionary dry ice blasting method that has gained a lot of popularity in recent times.
what is dry ice blasting?
Dry ice blasting, also known as CO2 blasting is a non-invasive form of cleaning technology. This method is safe and effective enough to clean almost anything, starting from a wooden base to any historical sights. Here, compressed air is used to blast frozen CO2 pellets which ultimately cleans the surface without leaving any sort of residue.
In this dry ice blasting process, dry ice or CO2 pellets, which are of very small size are shot out of a nozzle at breakneck speed on the surface that needs to be cleaned. Due to the high speed of the pellets, the moment they come in contact to the surface, they turn soft, sublimate and turn into gaseous form without passing through the liquid stage.
People are finding dry ice blasting as a more powerful cleaning method because it does not have the following drawbacks of traditional cleaning systems.
.the issue of disassembly and again reassembly of equipments
.lengthy procedure due to intensive hand scrubbing
.more man power is required to complete the task of cleaning
.the result is not up to the standard as total cleaning is not possible
.Not being environmental friendly
.Not being safe for electric equipments
Instead dry ice blasting has following benefits
.It is environment friendly as it is a non-abrasive, nonflammable and nonconductive cleaning method.
.In dry ice blasting, the equipments can be cleaned without moving them from their designated places.
.There are no secondary contaminants like solvents or grit media in dry ice blasting.
.The active electrical or mechanical parts of the equipments remain safe during the cleaning process.
.Dry ice blasting can be used effectively to remove production residues, contaminants, paints, release agents and oil.
.It is even less expensive.
Looking at all these benefits of dry ice blasting process, it becomes clear why companies are showing their faith in dry ice blasting process. Most of the companies want to minimize their industrial waste and there can no other better solution then dry ice blasting for reducing environmental waste, production downtime and plant maintenance concerns.
One such alternative is dry ice blasting. It is considered superior to other traditional methods such as scrapers, sanders and wire brushes. This process is known to save time and cleans as thoroughly and neatly or more so in a comparatively less time.
It is also faster and time-saving. It is used in any type of industry which has equipments that need to be cleaned regularly like automotive, power plants, aviation, packaging, plastics and many more. For instance, companies such as React365 Inc. offer on-site dry ice blasting services. This non-invasive form of cleaning technology is safe and effective on everything from the bottoms of boats to electrical switches and turbine fins.
What is Dry Ice
Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide (Co2). Dry ice is as hard as a plaster and under atmospheric pressure it sublimes at a temperature of -78oC.
Dry Ice Blasting
Dry ice blasting or CO2 blasting is a process in which dry ice pellets (about the size of grains of rice) are shot out of a nozzle at a supersonic speed to rid the equipment of residues including oil, paint, ink, glue, dirt, grease, food, mold release agents, rubber and several other contaminants. The pellets are accelerated using compressed air. Upon impact the dry ice transforms from a solid state to a gaseous state without passing through the liquid stage.
There are three phases in a dry ice blasting process.
Energy Transfer: Kinetic is transferred when the blasting gun fires dry ice pellets onto the surface. The dry ice pellet sublimates upon impact and is softer compared to other cleaning media such as sand, grit, or beads. It’s a non-abrasive form of cleaning and does not cause any damage to the equipment.
Micro Thermal Shock Effect: It occurs when the freezing dry ice pellets strike a much warmer contaminated surface leading to a thermal shock between the surface contaminant and the substrate. At that point, cracking and delamination of the contaminant occurs.
Thermal Kinetic Effect: In the third and final phase, the dry ice pellets explode when coming in contact with the surface. As the pellets warm, they convert to CO2 gas which expands rapidly underneath the contaminated surface. Then the contaminant either falls to the ground or becomes airborne. The dry ice evaporates and only the contaminant is left behind.
A Comparatively Safer Process
Dry ice blasting is quite effective and a safe process for the following plus points:
•No water or harsh chemicals are used in the process, so there is no additional waste being generated.
•There is no risk of slippage as with the pressure washing process.
Precautions Needed
However, certain safety precautions should be taken while conducting the process:
•Proper ventilation is a must. CO2 can be dangerous when concentrated in confined spaces. CO2 is 50 percent heavier than air and can displace oxygen and strangulate a person if there is no proper ventilation.
•It is imperative to wear ear plugs, as the process generates deafening noise.
•The temperature of dry ice can be as low as -110 degrees F and can instantly freeze the skin. Wear gloves when handling dry ice.
•Always use protective clothing, face shield when handling CO2 pellets or dry ice blasting unit.
Andrew Getz has sinced written about articles on various topics from The Internet, Environment. Andrew Getz is a chemical engineer and an enthusiast on environmental and industrial services. He writes extensively on newer technologies and eco-friendly methods of cleaning such as. Andrew Getz's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.