DRY ICE

IN PLASTIC & RUBBER MOLDING

WHAT IS DRY ICE?

THE MOST SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION ON THE MARKET

CLEAN IN-PLACE

EXTEND PRODUCTION RUNS, IMPROVE PART QUALITY & REDUCE OPERATING COSTS FOR INDUSTRY 4.0

IoT-ENABLED MACHINES

Steve Wilson

Want to utilize more efficient and environmentally sustainable cleaning methods? Want to lower your Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions score?

Start using dry ice.

It's no secret that sustainability and ESG initiatives are rising to the top of the corporate priority list. Plastic processors are aligning their corporate goals to remain responsible, competitive and resilient. Utilizing dry ice in several applications in plastics processing is helping the industry move into a circular economy to better protect our environment. How? The CO2 utilized for the production of dry ice is a Carbon Capture and Utilization process that involves using recycled CO2, and replaces environmentally harmful solvent cleaning processes.

Plastics and Rubber processors are under great pressure to increase the productivity of their equipment, improve the quality of their parts and reduce costs. This can be a balancing act between using the most effective technologies and working within a tight budget.

Mold cleaning remains a critical component of producing quality products. Cleaning mold cavities and vents of resin off-gasses, cured material or mold release agents can prevent numerous common molding problems such as short shots, burns, flash, contamination, etc. Cleaning is often delayed because traditional methods cause extended downtime and often involve the use of chemicals or mechanical means that are harmful to employees, abrasive to the tooling and can wear away critical mold tolerances.

We understand this problem and offer solutions to clean molds more often, faster, cheaper and non-abrasively, in a sustainable, environmentally sustainable manner. Cold Jet’s Dry Ice Environmental Cleaning and Surface Preparation (ECaSP) systems present a proven solution to accomplish productivity, quality and cost reduction initiatives that many plants are pursuing.

Dry ice is also utilized in our industry to deburr and deflash plastic parts. Thermoset parts will always have flash (sometimes thermoplastic parts as well), and the part geometries do not always lend themselves to tumbling. Our solutions are often completely automated.

Lastly, we offer solutions with on-demand dry ice production and blasting for the surface preparation/cleaning of plastic parts prior to painting. Cold Jet systems are designed for easy integration into existing automated paint line systems. They replace aqueous cleaning methods and the associated problems that come with wet cleaning: large floor space needed for drying oven, high operation costs for a drying oven and water reclamation system and scrap parts that do not dry thoroughly.

Thank you for your interest in our technologies and solutions. As you explore this magazine, you will discover the numerous problems that dry ice is solving in our industry. We look forward to working with you on your next dry ice cleaning project. Should you have any questions, or if we can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Introduction

Development Director

Improve Esg Scores With Dry Ice

Due to the fact that dry ice is recycled CO2, it will not contribute to your greenhouse gas score. In the calculation of a carbon footprint, CO2 is accounted for at the producer level. It is not counted a second time at the point of use.

California Air Resources Board

GIVING CO 2 A SECOND LIFE

CO2 path

The Unique Characteristics Of Dry Ice

Dry ice is non-abrasive, non-conductive and will not damage surfaces or equipment. By sublimating on impact, no secondary waste is left behind. It is also non-toxic and safer for employees than traditional cleaning methods. These attributes make dry ice cleaning an efficient, cost effective, environmentally sustainable, and occupationally safe cleaning solution.

40%

Estimated amount of water used at industrial facilities for sanitation

Dry ice eliminates single use brushes, pads, and rags that end up in landfills

60%

Average cost of water increases from 2010 - 2019 in 30 largest US cities

Eliminate downstream contamination, reduce GhG scores, and improve worker safety by removing solvents

TRADITIONAL CLEANING DRY ICE CLEANING

IS DRY ICE?

Dry ice is based on the conversion of captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into a value added, commercially useful product. It's the product of the carbon capture and utilization (CCU) process in which CO2 is captured at industrial, biogas, or ambient air capture facilities, converted to liquid CO2, and transformed into dry ice - giving it a second life as a cooling and cleaning medium.

Chemicals

Contaminant

Water Stop Production, Cool, Pull Tool, Transport, Clean, Transport, Reinstall Tool, Reheat, Restart Production Clean on-line during production WHAT

The Most Sustainable Solution On The Market Why Is Dry

Contaminant

We strive for a balance between economic, environmental and social goals. We categorically reject the ruthless pursuit of a profit at the expense of the environment. This process supports the environmental program of Geberit Productions AG.

Plastics Engineer | Geberit Productions AG

Kinetic Energy Thermodynamic Shock Co 2 Explosion

Impact of pellets creates a kinetic energy effect. The soft dry ice is accelerated by compressed air through specially designed nozzles at supersonic speeds.

C

Cold temperature of dry ice pellets creates a thermal effect. The temperature of dry ice (-109F/78.5C) causes the contaminant to embrittle. This helps break the bond between the substrate and the contaminant.

E

Expansion of the dry ice pellets. Dry ice pellets sublimate upon impact, volumetrically expanding in size by 800%, removing the contaminant.

Dry ice cleaning is similar to sand, bead and soda blasting in that it prepares and cleans surfaces using a media accelerated in a pressurized air stream. It differs in that dry ice cleaning uses solid CO2 pellets or MicroParticles, which are blasted at supersonic speeds and sublimate on impact, lifting dirt and contaminants off the underlying substrate.

7.2%

SUBLIMATION 250+ BY THE NUMBERS ANNUAL REVENUE USED FOR R&D 3%+ Higher R&D spend than other industry leaders

Dry ice blasting definitely results in a superior clean, and with less downtime, we have been able to increase production. Our automotive customers have very stringent quality control procedures and demands, and dry ice blasting has helped us meet those requirements.

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Vice President | Husky