Having a blast
Daniel Took, Head of Professional Product Marketing at Kärcher UK, explores why dry ice blasting should be the go-to method for a range of cleaning applications and materials.
Cleaning measures play an important role in everything from the maintenance of facilities to preserving the life of machinery, which helps to retain product value. Ensuring a clean environment is also an essential part of protecting employees and the public.
There are a range of different cleaning methods that can be utilised but dry ice cleaners form part of a technical revolution which was hardly conceivable up until now, and should not be overlooked.
The blasting process works as the rapid decompression of liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) produces dry ice that’s then compressed into small pellets, -79°C in temperature. The pellets measure 3mm in diameter and can be dispersed over 150 m/s. As the particles impact the surface, they emit kinetic energy allowing for the breakdown of stubborn agents. In addition, thermal energy from abrupt cooling causes a thermal shock effect, producing fine cracks in the top layer of material which becomes brittle and can be removed or crumbled away from the surface.
Finally, some of the frozen CO2 creates cracks in the dirt which literally blasts it off the surface. Through these physical effects, dry ice blasting can remove unwanted paints, oil, grease, tar, bitumen, ink, resin, adhesive, wax, silicon and rubber residues, chewing gum and a wide variety of dirt deposits.
For high-performance machines with small components, the pellets can be broken down into even smaller pieces to target delicate surfaces. The front-end scrambler creates fine pellets perfect for cleaning complex machines or areas with grooves and bearings, as they can penetrate even the tiniest nooks without the need to remove components, reducing the amount of downtime. High performance machines with small components, electronic circuitry, or sensitive hydraulic systems are best suited to cleaning with dry ice.
Dry ice cleaning allows for a gentle clean which eliminates the damage on surfaces because the process doesn’t erode, wear, or scratch what’s being cleaned. It’s even suitable for use on glass or plastic surfaces. The innovative cleaning practice also leaves no residues, such as spray or excess water, which can leave unwanted streaks because dry ice dissolves and returns to the atmosphere as CO2, resulting in an immaculate finish.
Kärcher’s IB 10/8 L2P is the world’s first dry ice blaster which utilises CO2 liquid offtake cylinders, which work with
50 | CLEANING MACHINES
a patented compressor unit within the device to produce the dry ice pellets for an unlimited time. This unique method eliminates the need for storage in refrigerated containers and prevents any loss of dry ice through sublimation.
It also requires very little compressed air during operation, making dry ice blasting attractive and economical for many target groups and applications. As CO2 is discharged via an exhaust hose, the operator has no contact with the pellets, making for safe handling.
As dry ice production takes place within the IB 10/8 L2P, this exciting technological development means you can use the superb cleaning performance of dry ice blasting spontaneously at any time and without long preparations. Dry ice blasting is also particularly effective because the reliable results come without producing by-products like wastewater or chemicals, as the pellets simply dissolve and return to the atmosphere. This function makes it suitable for short-term use, which wasn’t previously a reality due to the usual time-consuming dry ice logistics.
Whilst dry ice blasting is a relatively new cleaning process, it’s one which combines a strong cleaning performance with maximum surface protection so that you can guarantee an effective clean in shorter periods, with fewer resources than before. Dry ice blasting also cleans effectively without leaving behind vast amounts of waste, making it a more environmentally friendly option for machine maintenance.
www.karcher.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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