| In today's world, when the concerns
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| | the equipment.
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| regarding the environment are growing,
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| | Micro Thermal Shock Effect:
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| the demand for environment friendly
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| | It occurs when the freezing dry ice
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| cleaning methods is increasing. The
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| | pellets strike a much warmer contaminated
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| traditional methods of cleaning such as
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| | surface leading to a thermal shock
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| pressure washing have come under
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| | between the surface contaminant and the
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| scrutiny. Companies are turning to other
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| | substrate. At that point, cracking and
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| more eco-friendly alternatives.
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| | delamination of the contaminant occurs.
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| One such alternative is dry ice blasting.
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| | Thermal Kinetic Effect:
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| It is considered superior to other
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| | In the third and final phase, the dry ice
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| traditional methods such as scrapers,
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| | pellets explode when coming in contact
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| sanders and wire brushes. This process is
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| | with the surface. As the pellets warm,
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| known to save time and cleans as
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| | they convert to CO2 gas which expands
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| thoroughly and neatly or more so in a
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| | rapidly underneath the contaminated
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| comparatively less time.
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| | surface. Then the contaminant either
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| It is also faster and time-saving. It is
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| | falls to the ground or becomes airborne.
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| used in any type of industry which has
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| | The dry ice evaporates and only the
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| equipments that need to be cleaned
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| | contaminant is left behind.
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| regularly like automotive, power plants,
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| | A Comparatively Safer Process
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| aviation, packaging, plastics and many
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| | Dry ice blasting is quite effective and a
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| more. For instance, companies such as
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| | safe process for the following plus
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| React365 Inc. offer on-site dry ice
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| | points:
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| blasting services. This non-invasive
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| | • No water or harsh chemicals are used
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| form of cleaning technology is safe and
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| | in the process, so there is no additional
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| effective on everything from the bottoms
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| | waste being generated.
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| of boats to electrical switches and
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| | • There is no risk of slippage as with
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| turbine fins.
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| | the pressure washing process.
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| What is Dry Ice
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| | Precautions Needed
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| Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide
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| | However, certain safety precautions
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| (Co2). Dry ice is as hard as a plaster
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| | should be taken while conducting the
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| and under atmospheric pressure it
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| | process:
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| sublimes at a temperature of -78oC.
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| | • Proper ventilation is a must. CO2 can
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| Dry Ice Blasting
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| | be dangerous when concentrated in
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| Dry ice blasting or CO2 blasting is a
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| | confined spaces. CO2 is 50 percent
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| process in which dry ice pellets (about
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| | heavier than air and can displace oxygen
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| the size of grains of rice) are shot out
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| | and strangulate a person if there is no
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| of a nozzle at a supersonic speed to rid
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| | proper ventilation.
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| the equipment of residues including oil,
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| | • It is imperative to wear ear plugs,
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| paint, ink, glue, dirt, grease, food,
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| | as the process generates deafening noise.
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| mold release agents, rubber and several
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| | • The temperature of dry ice can be as
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| other contaminants. The pellets are
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| | low as -110 degrees F and can instantly
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| accelerated using compressed air. Upon
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| | freeze the skin. Wear gloves when
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| impact the dry ice transforms from a
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| | handling dry ice.
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| solid state to a gaseous state without
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| | • Always use protective clothing, face
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| passing through the liquid stage.
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| | shield when handling CO2 pellets or dry
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| There are three phases in a dry ice
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| | ice blasting unit.
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| blasting process.
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| | Watch this space for the next article
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| Energy Transfer:
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| | which will focus on the benefits of dry
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| Kinetic is transferred when the blasting
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| | ice blasting.
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| gun fires dry ice pellets onto the
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| | Author Info
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| surface. The dry ice pellet sublimates
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| | Andrew Getz is the President & CEO of
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| upon impact and is softer compared to
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| | React 365 Inc., a premier environmental
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| other cleaning media such as sand, grit,
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| | and industrial cleaning services
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| or beads. It's a non-abrasive form of
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| | including hazardous waste disposal
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| cleaning and does not cause any damage to
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| | services.
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