What is dry ice cleaning?

Polar ICS uses dry ice blasting as its cleaning method. Dry ice blasting is a revolutionary system that uses small, compact dry ice pellets as the blasting method. The three factors of dry ice blasting are:

Kinetic. When dry ice pellets are accelerated in a jet of compressed air and strike a surface at the speed of sound, they crack and loosen the coating on the surface being treated.

Thermal. The low temperature of the dry ice pellets (-79oC/110oF) makes the coating brittle, crack and loosens it. This allows the dry ice to permeate the coating.

Sublimation. Dry ice penetrates the coating and immediately sublimes (passes direct from solid to vapour state). This results in a 700-fold increase in volume; an explosive effect that lifts the coating off the surface.

Why dry ice blasting?

Dry ice blasting is also referred to as dry ice cleaning, CO2 blasting or cryogenic blasting.

It is non-toxic, non-conductive and non-abrasive. Dry ice vaporises immediately on contact with treated surfaces which gives unique advantages in comparison with traditional blasting methods. With dry ice blasting there is no secondary waste material (for example sand, glass or plastic). The only waste to be swept or vacuumed up is the coating dislodged by the treatment. It is therefore possible to clean objects in which other blasting methods' residual blasting material would collect in every inaccessible corner. Dry ice blasting allows cleaning to be performed while machines are running, without the need for dismantling.

It is an environmentally and equipment friendly alternative to conventional cleaning methods and can add value to your business through improved productivity, reduced waste and lower costs.


How does Polar ICS compare to your current cleaning process?

Cleaning method
Cleaned in situ
Abrasive
Chemical used
Toxic
Electrical component safe
Secondary waste
Performance comparison
Dry Ice Blasting Yes No No No Yes No Excellent
Steam No No No No No Yes Good
Solvents No Possible Yes Yes No Yes Limited
Chemical No Possible Yes Yes No Yes Limited
Jet wash No No Possible No No Yes Fair
Manual tools – scraper Yes Yes No No Yes No Poor
Bucket & sponge Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Poor


 

   Before  
After  
     

Images are of the weighing units belonging to a Sorma Verti-Pack automatic weighing machine being used to pack primarily citrus.

The units are positioned on the top of the machine and by design are difficult to access. The machine had a very high build up of general dirt, wax from the fruit and plu labels. With the use of an extended lance it was possible to access them in situ and successfully clean each unit.

Conventional cleaning methods could not be used in this area of the machine due to the electronic weighing mechanisms that are in place and their sensitivity to moisture.

The entire machine was thoroughly cleaned and ready to work again within 2.5 hours.