Why Dry Ice Blasting Works Better than Sandblasting

Cleaning industrial machines can be tough, but luckily there is dry ice blasting.

If you work in an industrial place like a plant, restaurant, or factory, you know how difficult it is to clean your machines. Oftentimes, the manufacturing machines you use in your industry every day are either very complex or intricate– and almost always very expensive. This means you’ll want to have a very low chance of the machinery breaking when being cleaned. Also, many times the machines cannot be cleaned by normal means unless they are completely disassembled. Disassembly is just not practical for these large machines, and sometimes it can risk further damage. But the machines need cleaning nonetheless. This leaves you with two cleaning options: sandblasting and dry ice blasting. While both are viable options for cleaning, dry ice blasting is a much better option for multiple reasons. Here’s why dry ice blasting is a much better cleaning method as opposed to sandblasting for your industrial machinery. 

Nonabrasive

Probably the most compelling evidence towards favoring dry ice blasting is that dry ice is a nonabrasive product. Sandblasting involves the firing of grains of sand at a machine to clean it. However, sand normally consists of tiny shards of rock and glass, which can cause tiny microscopic scratches on the machinery. If blasted enough times, the machinery will eventually be eroded away, which can cause damage and disrepair. Since dry ice begins to sublimate upon contact with room temperature air, it will soon dissipate into naturally occurring CO2 gas, leaving no room for scratches.

Non-Toxic

Also, because dry ice sublimates, it leaves nothing behind after its use. This means there will be no physical waste product left over after dry ice blasting is completed, including toxic or chemical waste. With sandblasting, all of the sand grains will be left behind at the bottom of the machinery, along with all of the toxic chemical waste it took out with it. Not only is the clean-up after sandblasting extensive, but you will also have to worry about cleaning up and disposing of potentially hazardous materials, which can become very expensive rather quickly. 

Environmentally Friendly

Lastly, dry ice blasting uses dry ice, which is simply the solid form of the naturally occurring gas carbon dioxide. It is sourced from the existing air in the atmosphere and then frozen. This means that dry ice is 100% biodegradable and will be absorbed back into the air when it has sublimated. While sand for sandblasting is also sourced, it is not biodegradable, and manufactured sand can oftentimes be a waste of natural mineral resources. 

Dry Ice For All Your Needs

Dry Ice Corp is the largest regional supplier of dry ice and related products in the Northeastern United States. Our ice is fresh and delivered right to your doorstep. We are happy to help you determine the best way to ship your goods, whether you have a huge amount of cookies or a single pie, and help you select the perfect amount of dry ice for the job. Give us a call at (201) 767-3200 or contact us online for a quote. To connect with us online, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.