What dry ice cleaning is and how it works

Pellets of solid CO2 blown at a surface with compressed air. What happens on impact, and why nothing is left behind.

The short version

Dry ice cleaning, also called dry ice blasting or CO2 blasting, uses pellets of solid carbon dioxide. Compressed air shoots them at a surface and they knock off dirt, grease and old coatings. Then the pellets turn into gas and are gone.

Three things happen at once

Kinetic energy. The pellets hit the surface at speed, and the impact loosens the dirt.

Thermal shock. Dry ice is at -78.5 degrees C (-109 degrees F). On contact it makes the dirt layer brittle, so it comes away more easily.

Sublimation. The pellets go from solid straight to gas. No liquid or solid is left behind. What remains is the dirt that was removed.

Compared with other methods

There is no water and no chemical, and no blasting media to clean up.
It is non-abrasive, so it can be used on delicate surfaces and paint.
It is dry, so it can be used around engines and electrical components.
Many areas can be cleaned without taking things apart.

What we use it for

At Arctic Works we use a Kärcher IB 10/15 L2P Advanced. We use it for engine cleaning, for the underbody before rust protection, for the exterior and interior, and for motorcycle parts. Our CO2 is industrial-grade, from Air Liquide Romania, and we make the pellets in the machine from the liquid.