Many people are quite familiar with the term "carbon dioxide" and know that it is partly responsible for global climate change. However, they know little about another form of carbon dioxide, "dry ice". Nowadays, dry ice is widely used, playing an important role in various aspects, from stage effects to cold chain transportation and industrial equipment cleaning. To help you better understand the role of dry ice and What assistance it can provide for the work and project you are engaged in, as a professional manufacturer of dry ice cleaning equipment, we will comprehensively introduce What is dry ice? To everyone in this article.
What is Dry Ice?
Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO₂), a compound composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms (C + O₂). Unlike water-based ice (H₂O), which melts into a liquid, dry ice sublimates-transitioning directly from solid to gas-earning its "dry" name, a term popularized in the 1920s. Discovered in 1835 by Charles Thilorier, dry ice maintains a temperature of -78.5°C (-109.3°F), making it significantly colder than water ice. One pound of dry ice can produce 8.3 cubic feet of CO₂ gas, contributing to its utility in fog effects and cleaning. Its moisture-free nature distinguishes it from traditional ice, ideal for applications where water residue is undesirable.
Characteristics of Dry Ice
Dry ice's unique properties make it suitable for diverse applications. Below are its key characteristics:
1.Extreme Low Temperature
Dry ice maintains a sublimation temperature of -78.5°C (-109.3°F), far colder than water ice's 0°C freezing point. This makes it 10 times colder than mechanical refrigeration systems, enabling it to preserve mRNA vaccines at -80°C for up to 48 hours. Its low temperature is critical for cryogenics and cold chain logistics.
2.Sublimation Phenomenon
Dry ice transitions directly from solid to gas without a liquid phase, losing 5–10 pounds per 24 hours in a standard cooler. This eliminates water residue, making it ideal for cleaning sensitive equipment like semiconductor wafers or maintaining dry environments in logistics.
3.Non-Toxicity and Safety Considerations
While CO₂ is non-toxic, high concentrations (above 5,000 ppm) pose an asphyxiation risk, as noted by OSHA. Proper ventilation is essential, especially in confined spaces.
4.Storage Requirements
Dry ice requires insulated containers, such as polystyrene foam, which reduce sublimation by 20% compared to non-insulated storage (Dry Ice International). These containers prevent rapid sublimation and pressure buildup, ensuring safe handling.
5.Fragility
Dry ice, especially in pellet form (3–16mm), is brittle and requires careful handling to avoid breakage during transport or use. This fragility necessitates robust equipment for industrial applications.
Uses of Dry Ice
Dry ice serves a wide range of industries due to its cold temperature and residue-free properties. Below are five key applications:
Cold Chain Transportation
Dry ice is critical for transporting perishable goods, including food, vaccines, and biological samples. It supported 70% of global COVID-19 vaccine shipments in 2021. Companies like FedEx report a 15% annual increase in dry ice shipments for food delivery, highlighting its reliability in maintaining low temperatures.
Industrial Cleaning (Dry Ice Blasting)
Dry ice jetting uses high-pressure carbon dioxide particles to clean surfaces without causing wear and can remove 99.9% of contaminants. Moreover, due to the rapid sublimation characteristic of dry ice, no residue is left on the cleaning surface, which can reduce the downtime of the equipment being cleaned and improve the efficiency of industrial production. Dry ice jetting is widely used in the automotive and aerospace industries. It is estimated that by 2027, its market size will reach 450 million US dollars. (Learn more about the working principle of dry ice cleaning machines.)
To meet the demands of efficient industrial cleaning, YJCO2 has specially designed this YJ-06 dry ice cleaning machine for industrial manufacturing environments. It can efficiently remove burrs, oxides and welding residues from injection molds, die-casting molds and rubber molds. The YJ-06 has adjustable particle size (0.2-1.5 mm), occupies an area of only 0.28 square meters, has precise injection pressure (0.3-1.0 megapascals), supports continuous cleaning, and has an ice-adding cycle of 20-50 minutes. Its 10-kilogram ice capacity and the accompanying protective equipment ensure reliable high-capacity performance. Contact us now to get a cheap quote ( info@yjco2.com )
Special Effects
Dry ice creates dense fog for stage productions, films, and events, producing 500 liters of fog per kg when sublimated in warm water. It's used in 80% of Halloween events and films like The Nightmare Before Christmas, offering a safe, visually striking effect.
Emergency Response
In disaster relief, dry ice preserves food and medicines for up to 72 hours, as seen during Hurricane Ida in 2021. Its non-conductive nature makes it suitable for electrical fire suppression, used by 30% of U.S. fire departments.
Scientific Research
Dry ice supports low-temperature experiments and biological sample storage, maintaining -80°C for 60% of DNA and RNA protocols. It's also used in cloud seeding, with UAE trials showing 15% precipitation increases.
Is Dry Ice Dangerous?
While dry ice is safe when handled correctly, improper use can pose risks:
- Cold Burns/Frostbite: Contact without insulated gloves can cause frostbite in under 5 seconds. Approximately 1,200 U.S. emergency room visits annually involve cryogenic burns, including from dry ice (American Burn Association).
- Asphyxiation Risk: CO₂ buildup in confined spaces can lead to suffocation. A 2018 incident in Japan hospitalized three workers due to poor ventilation. OSHA recommends maintaining CO₂ below 5,000 ppm, and NIOSH suggests CO₂ monitors set to alarm at 1,000 ppm.
- Explosion Risk: Sublimation in sealed containers can generate 0.5 bar of pressure in 10 minutes, risking rupture .
Safety Guidelines:
- Wear insulated gloves (-80°C rated), safety goggles, and long sleeves.
- Ensure ventilation to keep CO₂ below 1,000 ppm, using fans or open windows.
- Store in insulated, vented containers to prevent pressure buildup.
- Use CO₂ monitors in enclosed spaces.
How is Dry Ice Made?
Dry ice production involves several steps, transforming gaseous CO₂ into solid pellets or blocks:
1.Raw Material Sources
CO₂ is sourced from industrial processes, with 40% from ammonia production, 30% from ethanol plants, and 20% from natural gas processing. Food-grade dry ice requires 99.9% CO₂ purity
2.Compression and Liquefaction
CO₂ gas is compressed to 60–70 bar at -20°C, forming liquid CO₂ and consuming 0.2 kWh per kg. This step ensures efficient storage and transport.
3.Expansion Cooling
Liquid CO₂ is rapidly depressurized, triggering the Joule-Thomson effect to cool it to -78°C, forming CO₂ "snow." About 50% converts to solid, with the rest recycled as gas.
4.Pressing and Molding
CO₂ snow is pressed into pellets (3–16mm) or blocks (up to 50kg) using hydraulic presses, achieving 95% density. A single press can produce 100 kg/hour (Asco Carbon).
5. Packaging and storage of dry ice
Dry Ice usually needs to be packaged or stored in specific insulated containers. For example, the Dry Ice Container of YJCO2 is made of synthetic rubber or polyurethane materials that are wear-resistant, low-temperature resistant and anti-aging. These materials also have good low-temperature performance and can withstand the low-temperature environment caused by the sublimation of dry ice, ensuring the stability and safety of the container.
Conclusion
To sum up, dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide, with a temperature as low as -78.5°C. It also features easy sublimation and no residue, and is widely used in cold chain transportation, industrial cleaning, and stage special effects. However, dry ice has relatively high operational difficulty and certain risks in production and storage, and can only be made by oneself with professional equipment and knowledge.
As a reliable manufacturer of dry ice cleaning equipment, YJCO2 has integrated the most complete dry ice cleaning industry chain resources in China, providing a full range of one-stop procurement services from raw materials to equipment. Even if customers cannot obtain dry ice or air compressors locally, YJCO2 can still provide a complete solution of "dry ice + equipment + supporting systems", eliminating your worries. Contact us immediately to get a complete dry ice cleaning machine solution. ( info@yjco2.com )
