Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide (C02), the gas we exhale as we breathe. It is much denser and colder than traditional ice. Dry Ice is -109.3º F (-78.5º C). Traditional ice is 32º F (0 degrees C). In addition, dry ice doesn’t melt – it sublimates. Sublimation is the process of going directly from a solid to a gas. Dry ice bypasses the liquid form, giving it its name “dry” ice.
Types of Dry ices
‣ Solid Block Dry Ice (full block & half block-(available in bags,Thermacol boxes or Insulated containers)
‣ Custom Sliced Dry Ice
‣ Dry Ice Pellets/Nuggets (available in bags,Thermacol boxes or Insulated containers)
Industry Usages & Applications
‣ Accelerated plant growth
A small quantity of CO2 will increase the growth rate of plants. Allow the dry ice to sublimate in close proximity to the plants for 10-15 minutes daily.
‣ Emergency Refrigeration and Power Outages
Use dry ice to maintain refrigerator and/or freezer while power is out. The right amount of dry ice can maintain the cold for up to three days. Camping, Hunting, Fishing, Tailgating, Boating, etc
Use dry ice to keep food and beverages cold all day without the water mess found with regular ice. You can use dry ice to bring game or fish home frozen.
‣ Dry ice blasting
Dry ice blasting has become the fastest growing application of CO2 in the entire industry. Similar to sand blasting, dry ice blasting uses a jet nozzle and compressed air to shoot small pellets of dry ice (blasting rice) with superior results. The extreme cold causes targeted material to shrink, allowing for easier removal. The used blasting rice will sublimate into gaseous CO2 after use which makes cleanup a breeze.
‣ School science & experiments
There are a multitude of fun, creative science projects and experiments to be used in schools. Volcanoes, cloud chambers, comets, making baking soda, observing sublimation and gaseous expansion.
‣ Freezing fresh fruits
Place dry ice in the bottom of your cooler and the fruit directly on top. Close cooler and let fruits freeze for 20-30 minutes. Remove fruit and place in freezer safe plastic bags as needed.
‣ Kills clothes moths
Dry ice, when combined with heavy plastic bags can kill moths, larvae, and eggs through fumigation. Place clothes for fumigation in a plastic bag (at least 3mm thick). Wrap 5 pounds of dry ice in a towel/rag and place inside the bag. Seal the bag but ensure there is enough space for the sublimation to escape rather than building pressure. 20-30 minutes should be adequate time to finish the job.
‣ Lures mosquitos away
Mosquitos love dry ice!! ‘Why??? The reason mosquitos are attracted to both animals and humans is because when exhaling, we produce small amounts of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide). When CO2 is detected by a mosquito, is registers the location of it’s next meal of blood. As dry ice sublimes to CO2 gas, it’s equivalent to over 1,000 people breathing at the same time in a close proximity. Therefore the mosquito will zoom in on the dry ice because of the high concentration of 100% pure CO2 gas that dry ice expels. Place 5-10 pounds pieces of dry ice away from areas where people are gathered. Works amazing!
‣ Medical uses
There are a number of applications in the medical field. Doctors will often use dry ice to freeze and remove warts or other skin imperfections. Temperature sensitive medical supplies, samples, and equipment are also commonly transported with dry ice as a cooling agent.
‣ Remove car dents
Dry ice can be used to remove car dents and dings as long as there is no crease on the bottom and the sheet metal is not bent. Allow the dent to sit in the sun to warm up (or use a blow dryer). Take a 10 pound slab of dry ice and place directly over the dent. The rapid cooling of the metal will pop the dent back to normal. There is a very small risk of paint scratching with this method however it is quite rare (use at your own risk)
‣ Remove skin imperfections
Dry ice is sometimes used either with or as a substitute to liquid nitrogen to remove small skin imperfections, warts, and moles. This method is not to be used at home.