Yes it is possible! Dry ice blasting is in many cases more effective and efficient than other methods of surface cleaning. But what exactly is dry ice blasting and what are the applications?
Cleaning with dry ice = cold x speed
The dry ice cleaner or also called 'ice blaster' accelerates dry ice pellets of max. 2.5 millimeters with a jet of compressed air to more than 150 m/s. The dirt freezes and crumbles due to the low temperature of -79 ° C. Then the dirt is easily removed thanks to the high speed of the dry ice pellets. A very effective method for removing almost all types of dirt while the surface remains protected (unaffected).
The cleaning effect of dry ice blasting is based on 3 effects:
Impact effect: The compressed air flow that accelerates the dry ice and the nozzle design provide a large kinetic energy transfer.
Thermoshock: The temperature difference between the surface to be treated and the dry ice creates a large temperature gradient. This temperature gradient causes microscopic cracks in the layer to be removed, making it easier to peel off.
Micro-explosion: The moment a dry ice particle hits the surface to be treated, it is converted into gas. The volume of the gas is about 800 times larger than the dry ice particle. This causes a lifting force that removes the dirt.