What is the basic principle of dry ice cleaning?

Dry ice jet medium: Dry ice pellets are accelerated in a high-pressure airflow, impacting the surface to be cleaned. The unique feature of dry ice cleaning lies in the pellets' immediate sublimation upon impact. The momentum of the dry ice is dissipated at the moment of impact. A rapid heat exchange occurs between the dry ice pellets and the cleaning surface, causing the solid CO2 to sublime rapidly into gas. The dry ice pellets expand nearly 800 times their volume in a fraction of a second, creating a "micro-explosion" at the point of impact. Since the CO2 volatilizes, there are no secondary waste products generated during the dry ice cleaning process, leaving only the dirt that has been removed to be cleaned.

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

Just like with steel shot, glass bead, plastic shot, and soda blasting, the momentum of dry ice particles depends on their mass and velocity. Due to the relatively low density of dry ice, achieving the required impact energy mainly depends on the velocity of the dry ice particles.
Unlike other jetting mediums, 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冲击 fracture the dirt layer.

Dry ice cleaning offers what advantages over traditional cleaning methods, as a high-tech technique?

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

Can be directly cleaned on the production line without affecting production and improving production capacity.

2. Where water cleaning is not an option, dry ice cleaning is a perfect alternative.

3. Instantly vaporizes, leaving no residue, and does not generate secondary waste.

4. Non-destructive cleaning; does not harm machinery or damage molds.

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

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

7. Meets certifications by the U.S. EPA, FDA, and USDA.

8. Easy to operate and safe, preventing employees from being in a hazardous work environment.

Currently, dry ice cleaning can be widely applied in various fields such as tire manufacturing, casting, mold making, rubber, baking foods, aviation, power, petrochemical, and automotive interior parts production, saving substantial cleaning costs for enterprises and providing significant environmental benefits.

Comparison of Dry Ice Cleaning Effect Images