How Dry Ice Blasting Works: The Science Behind the Process

Many people ask us, "How does dry ice blasting work?" Our answer is, "There's more to it than meets the eye!"

Other media blasting methods rely primarily on the kinetic force to remove contaminants, which is generated by the media impacting the surface.  Given the unique properties of dry ice, the dry ice blasting method relies on the kinetic force as well, but also incorporates two other factors that lead to a more efficient cleaning process.    

The Challenges of Traditional Semiconductor Cleaning

In the world of semiconductor production, cleanliness isn't just a preference; it's a fundamental requirement. Even the slightest contamination can compromise product integrity, resulting in costly defects and reduced yields.

Semiconductor manufacturing equipment must be kept meticulously clean. Even microscopic particles or chemical residues can cause catastrophic defects in integrated circuits, leading to yield losses that cost manufacturers.

Traditional cleaning methods often present a paradox. While aiming for cleanliness, they introduce their own set of challenges: the use of hazardous chemicals, the generation of secondary waste, and significant downtime. Other drawbacks include:

• Costly Downtime: Disassembling equipment for cleaning is a time-consuming process, leading to reduced production efficiency.
• Chemicals and Solvents: The reliance on harsh chemicals and solvents poses risks to both product purity and worker safety.
• Hazardous Waste Disposal: The byproducts of chemical cleaning often require complex and expensive hazardous waste disposal procedures.
• Employee Exposure: Workers may be exposed to hazardous chemicals, posing potential health risks.

Dry Ice Blasting: The Future of Cleaning Electrical Components Without Damage

Cleaning electrical components in industrial settings has traditionally been a labor-intensive challenge. Modern dry ice blastingtechnology is transforming how companies maintain their intricate components, offering unprecedented precision and safety for sensitive electronics.

Dry Ice is an Environmentally Sustainable Cleaning and Transportation Solution

As environmental concerns continue to shape business priorities worldwide, companies are increasingly seeking ways to align their operations with sustainability goals.

One solution is dry ice blasting. But is this cleaning method truly eco-friendly?

The answer is a resounding yes! This blog will walk you through the facts, numbers, and proof that dry ice blasting is an eco-friendly cleaning solution!

Laser Cleaning: The hidden costs and limitations you need to know

While laser cleaning is promoted as a revolutionary advancement in surface treatment technology, the reality includes several significant drawbacks that can make it a poor fit for many applications.

This sophisticated technology comes with substantial upfront investments, ongoing maintenance requirements, and operational limitations that aren't always evident in initial demonstrations.

Before committing to this technology, it's important to understand these practical disadvantages and whether they align with your specific cleaning requirements and operational capabilities.

Limitations of laser cleaning

Despite being marketed as an environmentally friendly and precise method, laser cleaning presents several drawbacks:

• High initial investment
• Surface and material limitations
• Environmental and work area limitations
• Increased operational complexity
• High energy demands
• Slow cleaning speed
• Safety risks due to fume exposure

For many industrial cleaning needs, especially those involving large areas or heavy-duty buildup, more traditional methods like dry ice blasting remain faster, more cost-effective, less operationally complex, and more versatile.

Dry ice blasting is the most effective deburring and deflashing method

It is not uncommon for unwanted material to be left on a plastic part after machining or molding.

Burrs can be the result of numerous manufacturing processes: grinding, drilling, milling, turning, tapping, slotting, etc. They can manifest themselves in the forms of various types: roll-over, tear, flag and even poisson burrs.

It is essential to remove this unwanted material from the manufactured part without altering the dimensional tolerances or marring the surface. So when deflashing and deburring becomes necessary, a quality solution is also essential.

Whether in removing parting line flash or material burrs, traditional methods have often fallen short. These methods can be slow, involve human error and inconsistencies, cause grit entrapment, and cross contamination.

How does dry ice blasting compare to other cleaning methods?

When comparing dry ice blasting to other cleaning methods, such as abrasive blasting (sand, bead, etc), soda blasting, pressure washing, chemical solvent washing and manual hand tools, it is important to ask the following questions of each:

• Is it abrasive?
• Does it create secondary waste?
• Is it environmentally responsible?
• Is it toxic?
• Is it electrically conductive?

The attributes of each cleaning method not only affect the cleaning result, but they also dramatically affect the surface area that is being cleaned, the surrounding area and also the safety of the person performing the cleaning.

Answers to your questions about dry ice

Dry ice, the solid form of carbon dioxide, plays a critical role across numerous industries and applications, from pharmaceutical shipping and food preservation to industrial cleaning and special effects production.

This article addresses the most frequently asked questions about dry ice, covering everything from its fundamental characteristics and proper handling procedures to storage requirements and safety protocols.

Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2)

When you think about dry ice, you may picture spooky Halloween displays or those mysterious white chunks that smoke in your frozen food deliveries.

But have you ever wondered what dry ice is, how it's made, and what else is it used for?

Let’s take a deep dive into everything dry ice.

Dry ice blasting cleans molds while still hot and in the press

Most would agree that the mold is the heart of any injection molding process. Injection mold cleaning is a critical component of producing quality products. Maintenance practices, including your cleaning techniques, can contribute to mold wear.

Plastic injection mold cleaning with dry ice addresses the most common goals we hear from injection molders:

• Reduce labor and cleaning costs
• Improve operational efficiency and quality (Quality OEE Score)
• Obtain faster cleaning cycles (Availability OEE Score)
• Extend service life of injection molds
• Be environmentally friendly and sustainable