Dry ice blasting (cryoblasting) is surface treatment with a stream of solid carbon dioxide pellets (CO₂, sublimation temperature −78.5 °C) accelerated by compressed air. The pellets cool the contamination, which becomes brittle and detaches from the surface, while the pellets themselves sublimate. Only the removed contamination remains. The method is gentle: no chemicals, no water and no harsh mechanical action on the surface being cleaned.
Advantages
- no chemicals, water or abrasives — no secondary waste;
- often without disassembling the equipment;
- equipment is ready for operation immediately — no drying needed;
- electrical equipment can be cleaned after de-energising;
- the surface is neither worn nor deformed.
What it removes
- oils and greases, dirt, dust;
- carbon deposits, soot, resins;
- paint, residues of polymers and release agents;
- loose rust and process residues.
Limitations
- accessible surfaces only: the internal cavities of tubes and channels of heat exchangers are not cleaned with dry ice;
- thick hard mineral deposits (scale) are removed by chemical flushing or hydrodynamic cleaning;
- ventilation is needed indoors: CO₂ displaces air;
- the method is noisy — work is planned with this in mind.
Other methods
- Chemical flushing — dissolving deposits with chemicals circulated through the internal cavities of the equipment, followed by neutralisation and passivation of the metal; used where tools cannot reach.
- Hydrodynamic cleaning — breaking up deposits with a high-pressure water jet using high-pressure units, channel-cleaning hoses and special nozzles; for tubes, channels and vessels accessible to the nozzle.
- Mechanical cleaning — removal of dense and fully blocking deposits with manual and power tools; as a rule, requires disassembly or opening of the equipment.
- Laser cleaning — non-contact removal of rust, mill scale, carbon deposits and coatings from accessible metal surfaces.
The applicability of a method to specific equipment is determined after inspection and agreed with the customer; methods are often combined. The methods used for each type of equipment are listed in its description on this page.
Frequently asked questions
Is dry ice blasting safe for electrical equipment?
Yes, the method is used to clean electrical equipment: it uses no water and does not conduct current. The equipment is de-energised in accordance with safety rules.
Is there anything to clean up afterwards?
Only the removed contamination: the pellets sublimate, and no water or abrasive is used.
Where is dry ice blasting not suitable?
For thick hard scale inside tubes, chemical flushing or hydrodynamic cleaning is more effective.