Dry ice cleaning for renovation activities

What is dry ice cleaning?

Dry ice cleaning is a technique that is used in many industries for cleaning different applications. Dry ice is the solid form of CO₂ with a temperature of -79°C. At ambient conditions, dry ice sublimes directly from a solid back to gas. It is called “dry ice” as it does not contain water and turns to a liquid. For cleaning purposes dry ice in the form of 3 mm diameter pellets are most commonly used.

One of the main applications where dry ice cleaning is used and has proven its efficiency, is for renovation activities. Renovation is a very spacious field. The subjects that are pointed out are: dry ice cleaning for surface preparation, paintstripping with dry ice cleaning machines, asbestos removal with dry ice cleaning machines, graffiti removal with dry ice cleaning machines, clean-up fire damage with dry ice cleaning machines, etc.

In general we can state that dry ice cleaning is most used where water, sand, solvents or other cleaning methods are not allowed (for ex. to clean electrical machines, conveyors, chains, motors, etc.).

Advantages of dry ice cleaning for renovation

The main advantages of using CRYONOMIC^® dry ice cleaning machines for renovation are:

Dry allowance, without additional residue = ecological cleaning technology
No risk of water infiltration (stones and frames)
Speed of execution
Non-conductor, net level under voltage
Non-abrasive: generates no damage to the delicate surface
Fully autonomous mobile unit
...

1. Renovation: asbestos decontamination with dry ice cleaning machines

The CRYONOMIC^® dry ice cleaning technology is often used for asbestos decontamination. Dry ice cleaning machines offer asbestos decontaminators the opportunity to remove the expensive dangerous contamination without generating any additional waste! When dry ice cleaning, CO₂ turns to gas without getting contaminated. This is the reason why dry ice cleaning is so honored by asbestos decontaminators. As mentioned before, traditional cleaning methods generates additional waste: water, sand, brushes, etc. All of this needs to be disposed and that costs of course a lot of money. The dry ice cleaning technology ensures that this is not necessary! More about asbestos decontamination with dry ice cleaning machines.

2. Renovation: dry ice cleaning for graffiti removal and paint removal

Graffiti is a common occurrence in municipalities, cities, countries, but also on cars, trucks, trains, ... vehicles in general. In other words, it is a common issue that requires cleaning. To avoid extra waste and damage to the surface, dry ice cleaning machines are often used for graffiti removal. Dry ice cleaning machines can also be used for removing paint for renovating painted surfaces. For example: statues, bricks, buildings, marble, ... After cleaning with dry ice, the surface can be repainted. More about graffiti and paint removal.

3. Renovation: dry ice cleaning for chewing gum and road mark removal

Chewing gum, it is present everywhere in the world... it is a very annoying problem for walkers, stores (escalators) and others. It is also not easy to remove chewing gums. Or it will be a very hard cleaning job when you'll try to remove manually, or it will be a very dirty cleaning job when you'll try to clean with water and chemicals. Therefore it is always nice to know the CRYONOMIC^® dry ice cleaning technology. How does it work? Dry ice has a temperature of -79°C, when you blast with the dry ice cleaning machine on the gum, it freezes, cracks and turns to dust.

The same for road mark removal. Dry ice cleaning is a very efficient way of removing the road marks, signs and replace them. Sometimes it is hard to remove sings from asphalt. Asphalt however is very difficult since the paint goes inside the toplayer of the rough surface. Therefore abrasives have to be added to the dry ice. Pure dry ice will remove the top slow but the remains inside the porous structure will remain if it is removed and that can only be done with media that is harder than the asphalt: grit (more about dry ice grit blasting). Signs on asphalt made of a thermoplastic layer (like 3M sign tape) can be removed well from asphalt. These signs come loose when dry ice cleaning and are more used for temporary markings in yellow (because they are made to be removed easy). More about dry ice cleaning machines for chewing gum removal and road mark removal.

4. Renovation: fire damage clean-up, removal of tar, bitumen, asphalt with dry ice

Unfortunately, dry ice cleaning often has to be used to clean-up fire damage in buildings, factories, ... It is the most efficient and ecologist cleaning method for renovating, restoring and removing carbon deposits. Also removal of tar, bitumen and asphalt goes very easy with the CRYONOMIC^® dry ice cleaning technology! More about fire damage clean-up, removal of tar, bitumen and asphalt.

5. Renovation: dry ice cleaning of monuments

Monuments are often protected buildings and must therefore remain in their original form without being damaged during cleaning. Cleaning with dry ice ensures that the dirt is easily removed, no extra waste is created and no damage is caused to the monuments. In contrast to dry ice cleaning, other techniques such as cleaning with chemicals or sand can damage monuments. For example, when marble is cleaned with dry ice, the marble remains shiny thanks to dry ice cleaning! Monuments or buildings are often cleaned without removing paint from the existing structure which means that only the dirt will go off with dry ice cleaning. More about dry ice cleaning of monuments.

6. Renovation: paint stripping wooden constructions and furnitures with dry ice cleaning machines

Paint stripping of boats, machine parts, trains, trucks, metal machine parts, wooden constructions is a well-known application for users of dry ice cleaning machines. Dry ice cleaning has proven its great results especially for the last one, paint stripping of wooden constructions and furnitures. Removing varnish without any damage to the wooden floor is only possible with dry ice cleaning machines! Other applications where dry ice cleaning machines are used for are paintstripping floor, doors, furniture, ... More about paint stripping wooden constructions.

7. Renovation: removing oxidation with dry ice cleaning machines

CRYONOMIC^® dry ice cleaning machines are also used for derusting of chemical equipment, electrical installations, metal parts and constructions. Jobs are done with only dry ice because this technology has as big advantage that it does not damage the substrate. More about dry ice cleaning machines for oxidation removal and derusting.

8. Boat renovation with dry ice cleaning technology

In addition to static objects such as monuments, statues, walls, floors, boats also need to be cleaned. Dry ice cleaning machines are used for paintstripping boat, engine cleaning, removing rust, ... To remove rust from boats, we see that removing oxidation inside the metal not go with dry ice only (it stays red rusty with soft dry ice pellets). Since 2010, as first in the world, CRYONOMIC^® manufacture dry ice grit blasting machines where we use mostly dry ice, but add a little amount of grit to the ice. After the cleaning job, the boat will be shiny but a bit of metal will be removed… More about renovating boats with dry ice cleaning machines.

9. Renovation: dry ice cleaning of moulds

Dry ice cleaning is a very well known cleaning technique in various industries for moulds. The CRYONOMIC^® dry ice cleaning machines are used for mould cleaning in foundries, cleaning of tire moulds, mould cleaning in the manufacturing of car parts, mould cleaning in food industry, mould cleaning in glass industry, mould and extruder cleaning in plastic industry, pharmaceutical mould cleaning, automated mould cleaning, mould cleaning in building industry. The CRYONOMIC^® dry ice cleaning machine uses 20 to 30% less dry ice than other machines for mould cleaning. More about ecological and fast dry ice cleaning machines for mould cleaning.

10. Renovation: dry ice cleaning of escalators

A good maintenance of escalators is very important for unforeseen blockages. The main raisons why escalators stop working and need to be cleaned are chewing gum and cigarettes. With the CRYONOMIC^® dry ice cleaning technique, blockages can be limited to the minimum and this technology makes cleaning very easy and effective. More about escalator dry ice cleaning.

11. Renovation: dry ice grit blasting on constructions

In the event the contaminant on constructions is absorbed inside the stone or surface, a minimum of abrasive (soft to hard) allows to clean fast and effectively. Blasting water, steam, dry ice, …. can not remove it. Also when you have to remove oxidation inside the metal (removing rust from boats) it does not go with only dry ice (it stays red rusty with soft dry ice pellets). With the Abrasive Module all contaminant can be removed. The dry ice grit blasting machines are mostly used for cleaning oxidation, facade cleaning, surface preparation, graffiti removal, statues, paintstripping lead paint, ... More about dry ice grit blasting on constructions.

CRYONOMIC^®, your partner for dry ice cleaning

CRYONOMIC^® manufactures dry ice cleaning equipment and export these to many countries worldwide for almost 30 years. We have a team of 60 people in different regions who spread out the CRYONOMIC^® benefits. They are trained to do demo’s, sell dry ice cleaning machines and are responsible for the after sales service in the applicable area. They will be pleased to give you a demonstration! And if there is no local partner in your area, we will be pleased to welcome you in the CRYONOMIC^®-family!

Interested in a CRYONOMIC^® dry ice cleaning machine?

Are you in need of a dry ice cleaning machine? Contact us at +3292167690 or info@cryonomic.com and we will be pleased to inform you about the dry ice blasting machines and their application areas.