Dry-ice blasting
Dry ice is made of reclaimed carbon dioxide that is produced from other industrial processes, and is an approved media by the EPA, FDA and USDA.
The sublimation process absorbs a large volume of heat from the surface, producing shear stresses due to thermal shock.
to improve cleaning as the top layer of dirt or contaminant is expected to transfer more heat than the underlying substrate and flake off more easily.
The rapid change in state from solid to gas also causes microscopic shock waves, which are also thought to assist in removing the contaminant.
It was developed by Cold Jet, LLC in 1986,[7][8] and uses a single hose to deliver air blasts and dry ice.
To avoid the potential dangers of a pressurized hopper, single-hose dry-ice blasters make use of a quickly cycling airlock.
In 2014, a Slovakian company, ICS Ice Cleaning Systems, patented a set of crushing rollers to reduce the size of particles leaving the applicator gun.
In 2020, a Florida-based entrepreneur and founder of the DryceNation community, began sharing this method which was immediately well received by the collector car industry.
[11] As early as 2004, the UK Food Standards Agency documented the process to effectively decontaminate surfaces of Salmonella enteritidis, E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes such that these microorganisms are not detectable using conventional microbiological methods.
[12] "As a result of two outbreaks salmonellosis associated with the consumption of peanut butter and baby food in 2006–2007,[13][14] an effort was taken" by GMA members such as Cargill "to reassess industry practices for eliminating salmonella in low-moisture products" because "Salmonella outbreaks from low-moisture products are relatively rare but often impact large numbers of people."
A document resulted from this effort describing a variety of waterless cleaning methods,[15] including dry-ice blasting.
[17] Due to the nonabrasive nature of dry ice and the absence of secondary waste from the cleaning process, dry-ice blasting is used in conservation and historical preservation projects.
Due to its environmentally friendly and efficient characteristics, it has gradually become an important means of car maintenance and cleaning.
The following are the main uses of dry ice blasting in car cleaning:[26] Engine cleaning Dry ice blasting can quickly remove oil, carbon deposits and dust from the engine surface without damaging wires, rubber parts and other sensitive parts.
Dry ice blasting can effectively remove stubborn dirt on the chassis while protecting the metal surface and coating from damage.
Carbon dioxide is increasingly toxic starting at concentrations above 1%,[28] and can also displace oxygen resulting in asphyxia if equipment is not used in a ventilated area.
In addition, because carbon dioxide is heavier than air, exhaust vents are required to be at or near ground level to efficiently remove the gas.
