Icetech Dry Ice Cleaning

What is Dry Ice Cleaning?

Dry ice blasting or cryogenic blast cleaning as it is known as in industry is a safe and environmentally friendly process of cleaning graffiti, ductwork, oil, dirt, grease, chewing gum from all types of surfaces leaving them highly sterile. This method has improved cleaning standard of companies across a broad range of industries leading to increases in productivity, product quality and environmental responsibility coupled with substantial savings.

How does it remove contaminants?

Pellets of solid carbon dioxide are propelled at high velocity from the dry ice machine which impact onto the surface and returns back to its natural state of carbon dioxide gas. It expands up to 800 times the volume of the pellet which breaks up the coating making it brittle. As result it simply pops the contaminant of the surface from inside out. This method has improved cleaning standard of companies across a broad range of industries leading to increases in productivity, product quality, and environmental responsibility coupled with substantial savings.

What are its advantages over conventional methods of cleaning?

Unlike sandblasting which chisels or cuts the contaminant from the surface (and may cause damage) or chemical cleaning which can create a toxic or hazardous waste the carbon dioxide simply lifts the contaminant away from the surface. As a result the contaminant tends to fall to the floor and can simply be vacuumed away with minimal effort. There is no secondary waste generated.(All surfaces which require contaminant removal will need to be checked on an individual basis to ensure that dry ice is a suitable option for cleaning.) It will not damage electrical wiring and controls, switches and relays and leaves no thermal shock behind on metal surfaces.

What are its limitations?

Dry ice cleaning will not completely remove rust or oxidation from metal. Since CO2 is non abrasive it does not remove oxides other than what is on the surface and will not remove burn demarcations in metal from welding or heating due to its inability to remove surface layers. CO2 blasting on wood will raise the grain as the pith is lowered.

Is dry Ice blasting friendly to the environment?

Although carbon dioxide is produced into the atmosphere it is however a natural element which comprises of just 0.03% of our atmosphere. Dry ice pellets are made of recycled Carbon dioxide and thus contribute no new co2 and therefore minimal impact on our environment. Dry ice blasting prevents the use of chemicals, toxic substances or solvents and thus their release in to the environment which can be harmful to wild life, organic life forms and rivers etc. It also inhibits bacterial growth by up to 75% by sanitizing as it disinfects.

Health and Safety

Like most industrial processes there is always an element of danger and dry Ice blasting is no exception. The dangers that operators will be exposed to consist of noise, compressed air, solid carbon dioxide and...

• Noise: The noise levels can reach up to 130dB(A) which will require emissions to be reduced to as low as possible under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2006. Operators will be required to wear ear protection at all times during the cleaning process.
• Compressed Air: Pellets leave the nozzle of the pistol at 300m/s and as a result the gun should not be aimed at other persons or the direction of where others may be standing .Hoses used will be positioned so that they are kink free and all fittings will be tightened correctly before commencing operations. Only trained operators will be allowed to use the Icetech equipment.
• Dry Ice/Solid Carbon Dioxide: The temperature of dry ice is -79?c and congelation (the dry ice solidifying around the nozzle) will occur. This may cause burns to the operator or others who come into contact with the ICETECH equipment. Therefore long sleeve clothing and heavy duty gloves are required to be worn at all times during the cleaning process.
• Atmosphere deduction: As CO2 produced during the cleaning process removes oxygen from the atmosphere works should only be undertaken in well ventilated rooms to reduce the risk of asphyxiation to the operatives.
• PPE: As always correct PPE should also be worn which take into account the location where works are undertaken and the dangers associated with such works should be clearly identified by risk assessment.

Video and remote controlled ice blaster robot

Dry Ice is a solid carbon dioxide. It is made by reducing the pressure and the temperature of liquid carbon dioxide in a controlled way so that it converts into the ‘snow’ form of the solid state, which is then made into various shapes and sizes, and used for graffiti removal from areas such as train surfaces and brick walls, grease ductwork, petroleum and oil. The IceTech prevents the use of chemicals, toxic substances or solvents and thus their release in to the environment which can be harmful to wild life, organic life forms and rivers etc.