What is the basic principle of dry ice cleaning?

Dry ice cleaning utilizes dry ice pellets accelerated in a high-pressure jet stream to impact the surface to be cleaned. The unique aspect of dry ice cleaning is that the pellets instantly vaporize upon impact. The momentum of the dry ice vanishes at the point of impact. A rapid heat exchange occurs between the dry ice pellets and the cleaning surface, causing the solid CO2 to sublime into gas almost instantaneously. The dry ice pellets expand by nearly 800 times their original volume in a fraction of a second, creating a "micro-explosion" at the impact point. As the CO2 evaporates, no secondary waste is produced during the dry ice cleaning process, leaving only the dirt removed for disposal.

What are the unique features of dry ice as a cleaning medium?

Just like with steel shot, glass bead, plastic bead, and soda blasting, the momentum of dry ice pellets depends on their mass and velocity. Due to the relatively lower density of dry ice, achieving the required impact energy largely depends on the velocity of the dry ice pellets.
Different from other jetting media, dry ice particles have an extremely low temperature (-78℃). This low temperature gives dry ice cleaning unique thermodynamic properties that affect the mechanical properties of adhered dirt. Due to the temperature difference between the dry ice particles and the cleaning surface, a thermal shock phenomenon occurs. As the material's temperature drops and brittleness increases, dry ice particles can shock and break apart the dirt layer.

Dry ice cleaning, as a high-tech cleaning method, what are its advantages compared to traditional cleaning methods?

At -78°C, CO2 exists as a solid. Under normal temperature and pressure, solid CO2 sublimates directly without undergoing a liquid phase. This characteristic means that dry ice cleaning has unparalleled advantages over traditional cleaning methods:

1. Can be directly cleaned on the production line without affecting production, improving output capacity.

2. For areas that cannot be washed with water, dry ice cleaning is a perfect alternative.

3. Instantly vaporizes with no residue, no secondary waste produced.

4. Non-destructive cleaning; no damage to machines or molds.

5. Multiple nozzle options available for replacement, wide cleaning range.

6. Utilizes on-site compressed air for convenience and practicality.

7. Compliant with EPA, FDA, and USDA certification requirements.

8. Easy to operate and safe, helping to prevent employees from working in hazardous environments.

Dry ice cleaning is now widely applicable in various fields such as tire manufacturing, casting, mold making, rubber processing, baking food production, aviation, electricity, petrochemicals, and automotive interior parts production, saving enterprises a substantial amount of cleaning costs and providing significant environmental benefits.

Comparison of Dry Ice Cleaning Effects