FAQ

How does Snow-Clean work?

Snow-Clean is a superior cleaning method. It uses environmentally friendly frost that contains no water, chemicals or abrasives that will cause damage to the underlying cleaning surface. Soft frost crystals supercool debris, which breaks the powerful adhesion forces then instantly expands at sonic speeds into vapor that blows contaminants away.

What is Dry Ice?

Dry ice is carbon dioxide in solid form. Our dry ice is locally recycled from the atmosphere and formed into solid pellets. It is an approved cleaning media by the EPA, FDA and USDA. It is so effective and gentle it is used to clean priceless artwrok, telescope optics and semiconductors.

What is Dry Ice Blasting?

Dry ice blasting is a revolutionary cleaning method in which dry ice pellets replace traditional blasting materials like sand, water, glass and plastic. Unlike sand blasting, the dry ice blasting process leaves no secondary waste material. The only waste to be disposed of is the coating that has been dislodged, and this can normally be swept or vacuumed from the floor beneath the treated object. The process is dry and non-conductive, therefore it is suitable for use on electric motors and electrical circuitry. It also reduces or eliminates exposure to harmful chemical cleaning agents.

How Does Dry Ice Blasting Work?

Dry ice pellets are accelerated in a jet of compressed air then strike the target coating to be removed at velocities up to the speed of sound. Cleaning results from three effects. Kinetic Effect: When dry ice pellets strike a surface at the speed of sound, any coating on the surface is cracked and loosened. Thermal Effect: The low temperature of dry ice pellets makes the coating brittle, cracks it and loosens it as a result of reduced bonding between the coating and the underlying surface. This allows dry ice to permeate the coating. Explosive Effect (Sublimation): Dry ice penetrates the coating and immediately sublimes (instantly transitions from solid to vapor state). This results in a 700-fold increase in volume, an explosive effect that lifts the coating off the surface.

What are Pellets?

Pellets are carbon dioxide in solid form shaped into small particles about the size of grains of rice.

Why Should I Use Dry Ice Blasting Instead of Traditional Blasting Methods?

Dry ice blasting is a completely dry process. Dry ice blasting is non-toxic, non-conductive and non-abrasive. Dry ice vaporizes immediately on contact with treated surfaces through a process called sublimation. This gives several advantages in comparison with traditional cleaning methods. With dry ice blasting there is no secondary waste material (sand, glass, plastic, etc.). 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. This is, of course, of great economic importance as costly downtime can be eliminated or drastically reduced.

What Happens to the “Blasted-off” Coating?

1) Dry coatings crack into small flakes that can be swept or vacuumed. 2) Moist coatings (e.g. oil or grease) are carried away in the compressed-air jet in a fashion similar to that seen with high-pressure hosing. The treated surface is left dry and clean.

Which Materials Can Withstand Dry Ice Blasting?

The process is dry and non-abrasive so any material can be cleaned by dry ice blasting without ill effects. For example, plastics and highly polished aluminum can be treated without giving the surface a matt finish.

Does Dry Ice Blasting Have Economic Benefits?

Engines and machinery can often be cleaned with dry ice blasting while it is running, without the need for dismantling and subsequent re-assembly. This is, of course, of great economic importance as costly downtime can be eliminated or drastically reduced. Costs connected with the disposal of blasting material and solvents are eliminated. Cleaning and maintenance payroll costs will often be reduced to a fraction of present levels by substituting dry ice blasting for traditional cleaning methods.

Is Dismantling Necessary Before Dry Ice Blasting?

It is often unnecessary to dismantle machinery or equipment to be cleaned by dry ice blasting because the process is completely dry and leaves no blasting material or chemical residues.

Does Dry Ice Blasting have Thermal Effects on Treated Objects?

No, temperature changes in machinery during dry ice blasting are generally small in comparison with changes occurring during normal operation.

Can I use Dry Ice Blasting to Clean Hot Machinery While It is Running?

Yes. Faster and more effective cleaning can often be achieved when the object to be cleaned is hot.

Can I Minimize Downtime – or Avoid It Entirely?

Yes. In many cases it will be possible to clean machinery without shutting it down. In other cases, it will be possible to reduce the duration of shutdowns for cleaning purposes, as cleaned surfaces remain dry.

Does Dry Ice Blasting Damage the Underlying Surface?

No. Blasting pressure can be adjusted to suit the material to be treated so that coatings can be removed without damaging the underlying material itself. This means that dry ice blasting can also be used on easily-damaged materials like nickel, chromium and soft aluminum.

Is Dry Ice Blasting as Effective as Traditional Cleaning Methods?

Yes. In the vast majority of cases, dry ice blasting is superior to traditional cleaning methods.

Which Cleaning Methods can be Replaced with Advantage by Dry Ice Blasting?

Advantages can be gained from replacing methods such as sand blasting, high pressure hosing and manual cleaning (which requires considerable resources and the use of hazardous, environmentally hostile chemicals) with dry ice blasting, which is an extremely environmentally friendly process.

Can I use Dry Ice Blasting in Places, or on Materials, where Traditional Methods Cannot be Used?

Yes. As dry ice blasting is a clean and dry process, it can be used with advantage instead of traditional methods that leave detergent residues. The process has also been approved for use in the food industry.

How Quickly can Various Objects/Materials be Cleaned?

The speed at which cleaning can be performed is highly dependent on the type of coating, the nature of the underlying material, the temperature of the object to be treated, the air volume etc. To evaluate these factors, tests must be carried out in the actual situation.

Is the Dry Ice Jet Capable of Conducting Electricity?

No, the dry ice jet is non-conductive as long as the compressed air used is dry.