There are three primary factors that contribute to the dry ice cleaning process. The factors are Pellet Kinetic Energy, the Thermal Shock Effect, and the Thermal-Kinetic Effect. In order to more easily explain the process, we have created the following acronym (ICE).
Impact – Impact of pellets creates a Kinetic Energy Effect. The soft dry ice is accelerated by compressed air through specially designed nozzles at supersonic speeds.
Cold – Cold temperature of dry ice pellets creates a Thermal Effect. The temperature of dry ice (-109°F / -78.9°C) causes the contaminant to embrittle. This helps break the bond between the substrate and the contaminant.
Expansion – Expansion of the dry ice pellets. Dry ice pellets sublimate upon impact, volumetrically expanding in size, removing the contaminant.