Ice-air blast cleaning: Case studies

摘要

Ice blasting constitutes one of the most promising emerging cleaning techniques. The ice-air blasting generates minimal waste materials, requires portable, comparatively inexpensive facilities and most of all there is virtually no substrate damage in the course of blasting. This paper discusses the results of an experimental study on ice cleaning. Different techniques for ice powder production are analyzed and the conceptual designs of various ice blasting systems are discussed. Special attention is paid to the current and potential applications of ice-based cleaning. The case studies involve decontamination of electronic devices, precision mechanical parts, soft plastics, biological materials, etc. Derusting and depainting of steel and graffiti removal were also explored. The analysis performed enables us to identify the potential applications of the ice blasting in industry, civil engineering and medicine.