So, how exactly does dry-ice blasting work? The scientific process behind dry-ice blasting consists of three main parts and is as follows:

• Pellet kinetic energy:

The tiny particles of CO2 are propelled at the highest attainable velocity, changing from a solid to a gas state almost instantaneously upon impact with the surface material. Because of this transfer from solid to gas, very little energy is transferred to the substrate. This is what makes dry-ice blasting a non-abrasive technique.

• Thermal shock effect:

The sudden change from solid to gas creates heat. The heat is absorbed into the thin top layer of surface coating or contaminant creating micro-cracks. The pellets can then penetrate and remove the surface coating or contaminant.

• Thermal Kinetic Effect

The combination of the solid CO2 changing to gas, and the heat which this creates, causes micro-explosions. The pellet, instead of rebounding, distributes it energy along the surface during impact. The CO2 gas expands along the surface and effectively provides an area of high-pressure between the surface and the contaminant or coating. The result is a highly efficient lifting force that carries the particles away from the surface.

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