How does Dry ice work and How is Dry ice made - What is the Temperature of Dry ice When Carbon dioxide is Pressurised and Cooled, it forms a liquid. This liquid Carbon dioxide is poured into moulds to that can either pelletize or form blocks, and these moulds are exposed to atmospheric pressure, The process of depressurizing the liquid forms Dry Ice (Frozen Carbon Dioxide). The Temperature of Dry Ice, Frozen Carbon Dioxide is at -78.5 C. Dry Ice Wraps Packs which is a solid sublimate to Carbon Dioxide Gas, unlike ice which melts into a liquid. These superior properties like easily available ingredients, Sublimating property thus not leaving behind any watery mess and the supercooling temperatures of -78C make it the most reliable and preferred Refrigerant and have been commercially used for over 70 Years. Although Dry ice has several handling hazards like breathing the fumes can lead to suffocation, and direct contact with Bare skin can give an instant Frostbite, Dry ice is widely used in most cold chain solutions thanks to its cost effective and superior properties. Applications of Dry ice Dry ice is also commonly seen in Parties and Stage performances for the Fog Effect, the Cold chain industry revolves around Dry ice but interestingly Dry ice has various other uses like Plant Growth – Dry ice is allowed to sublimate close to plants thus releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide which speed up the growth of plants. Bitumen Use - Bitumen has been widely used for roads, Highways, Airport Runways, Roof insulation, etc. and it is usually at very high temperatures when it’s molten. Dry ice is used to cool it down faster so the workers can use it to pave the roads immediately. Camping – Keeping Drinks cold and Meat Frozen is a big challenge when people are away camping without access to power, use of ice can be a challenge in extreme temperatures especially when people are accessing the box frequently. Dry Ice Wraps Packs is the refrigerant of choice to keep things frozen when people are away on long camping trips. Chemotherapy – One of the after effects of Chemotherapy in Cancer patients is severe hair loss. Dry ice packs used in cooler caps have proven to be effective in reducing hair loss. Dry Ice Blasting – Dry ice blasting has become a common way of sterilising containers or metals to remove them of any contaminants. Example – Tanks that are deep and hard to reach to clean are often cleaned with Dry ice. Often Metals that have a corrosive coating on them are cleaned with Dry ice blast to remove the rusts easily. Skin cancer and Imperfections – Dry ice is commonly used to blast off any warts or any excess skin growth in cases of skin Cancer. Specialists find this to be an effective application. Dent Removals – Dry ice is very commonly used in removing soft Dents in Cars without affecting the paint on the body. The Fast Cooling Method pops the body back into its original shape without having to tinker with it.
Seed Preservation – Dry ice is commonly used to Preserve seeds and harvest from pests, fungus and insects. The Dry ice is stored in the containers of the seeds, and the Co2 displaces the oxygen and thus preserving the seeds and harvest for a longer time. Mattress and Clothes fumigation – Dry ice has proven to be an effective in fumigating Mattresses and clothes to get rid of any bugs or mites, thanks to the super cold temperatures and co2 release, this has been the most efficient chemical free fumigation material. Dry ice has hundreds of other uses. However, it is the nature of the beast due to its complex handling requirement classifies it as a Dangerous Good. Dry ice can explode in an air tight environment besides causing an increase in Carbon dioxide content in Aircraft Cabins, A lot of companies have been forced to steer away from the use of Dry ice for transport and Cryotherapy applications. Hence the Dry ice packs were invented. These Dry ice packs are replacements for dry ice that stay dry even after hydration and defrosting. They can be freeze to lower temperatures in blast freezers which usually run at -80C. Although the Dry ice packs are not as efficient as the Dry Ice Packs, they are still the best ice replacement to transport things cold including Cryotherapy. With increasing regulations to keep things chilled and frozen to avoid contamination from harmful, life-threatening bacteria including salmonella, there has been increased pressure for companies including grocery storage and transport to be at controlled temperatures. A direct replacement for Dry ice is lighting years away, and Dry ice remains a reliable, cost effective refrigerant for many years to come. Cryolux Australia - The Source for Innovative Cold Chain Products, We offer a range of Icepacks, Bubble Back Ice Packs, Tuna Gullet Gel packs, Disposable Ice packs, PCM gel packs, Iceboxes, Esky, , and cold chain shippers to name a few