What Is Dry Ice Blasting?

Countless companies use this efficient, eco-friendly cleaning process.

Depending on the sector you work in, your cleaning needs may go beyond water, soap and elbow grease. There are many cleaning and decontamination options on the market, and one of the primary services Irish Carbonic provides is dry ice blasting.

If you’ve never worked with a dry ice blasting machine, here is a primer on what they are and how they are used.

What is dry ice blasting used for?

Broadly speaking, dry ice blasting is a means of pressure-cleaning to remove surface contaminates — for example, grease, mold and paint — using dry ice pellets. These pellets are emitted at rapid speeds and sublimate on impact. The impact creates mini-explosions that unsettle and remove contaminates without damaging the surface.

Dry ice blasting is used on various surfaces, from brick, stone and cement to fiberglass and hardwood. It is a preferred method for cleaning hard-to-reach spaces.

The dry ice blasting process is:

• incredibly effective, leaving a spotless surface.
• non-abrasive and non-flammable.
• clean, leaving no secondary waste.
• able to access otherwise-inaccessible spaces.

What kinds of businesses use dry ice blasting?

Dry ice blasting is especially useful for cleaning projects where water, chemicals and caustic agents can’t be used. It’s also an excellent method for cleaning fragile or tightly spaced surfaces.
We regularly rent dry ice blasting machines for these projects:

• adhesive removal
• asphalt removal
• automotive restoration
• coatings and corrosion removal
• coffee roaster cleaning
• compositive tool cleaning
• core box cleaning
• general equipment cleaning
• historical restoration
• mold remediation
• nonwoven die cleaning
• parts finishing
• surface preparation
• weld line cleaning

It’s essential to take safety precautions when using a dry ice blasting machine. The pros at Irish Carbonic can provide support and guidance.

Is dry ice blasting safe for the environment?

Dry ice blasting is an exceptionally eco-friendly cleaning solution. Here are some of the reasons:

• It utilizes reclaimed carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of using new resources. Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of industrial processes that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Reclaiming it and using it for cleaning means that no new carbon is added to the environment with dry ice blasting.
• Dry ice blasting involves no chemical solvents, only dry ice. This is one of the reasons that the EPA, FDA and USDA approve this method for use in food manufacturing.
• Dry ice sublimates into a gas as soon as it strikes a surface. Unlike with chemical cleaning processes, there is no secondary waste to potentially contaminate the area around the cleaned surface.

Irish Carbonic is your dry ice cleaning partner!

We are proud to sell and rent industry-leading dry ice blasting machines from Cold Jet to customers in Buffalo, Rochester and surrounding towns. This product uses recycled solid CO2 pellets called MicroParticles, as well as advanced system technology, to prove precision cleaning with minimal residue.

If you have a challenging cleaning job that requires dry ice blasting, then Irish Carbonic is here to help. Drop us a line today to discuss renting or purchasing a Cold Jet product.