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Abrasive blasting with baking soda versus dry ice blasting

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We are often asked about the advantages and disadvantages of dry ice blasting compared to soda blasting, or abrasive blasting in general, so let's take a close look at dry ice blasting. What exactly is dry ice? Dry ice is the solid form of carbondioxide  and is considered a hazardous material ; therefore, precautions must be taken when using dry ice for blasting. Dry ice blasting is a process where dry ice pellets are accelerated by compressed air to high speeds that fracture the top layer of dirt and residue then, once the dry ice penetrates the dirt and residue, the temperature of both the dirt and residue layer and the substrate decreases. The different materials contract unequally and the adherence between them decreases. This temperature difference helps to separate the dirt and residue from the substrate. After the dry ice makes its initial impact, it instantly turns from a solid to a gas. The volume expansion causes a micro explosion that detaches the dirt and resi...
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Cleaning Anilox Rollers

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Anilox roll cleaning is essential to maintain the precision of the ink or coating being delivered to the substrate. The clogging of the cells of laser-engraved ceramic anilox rollers with contaminants and dried ink impairs the printing quality. If you neglect to clean your rolls on a regular basis, you will not get the most out of your investment. Plugged cells will affect print quality and cause you frustration, waste and downtime. An anilox cleaning program consisting of daily, weekly and deep cleaning will preserve the integrity of the anilox engraving and ensure quality, press efficiency and longer anilox life. Volume on new anilox rollers is even across and around the surface of the roll. As the roll is used, however, a residual amount of ink or coating material is left behind in the cells after the transfer has taken place. The residue dries and creates build-up in the cells.   Over time, these deposits decrease the capacity of the cells and reduce their ability t...
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Soda Blasting - Smoke and Soot Removal

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Soda blasting is the perfect choice for smoke and fire restoration because it is without question the fastest and most effective tool available for removing soot and cleaning lightly charred building materials. Since baking soda is considered a non-destructive and non-abrasive media, it will clean soot from all framing members of a building without damaging the wood and provides a superior "sanded" finish on most surfaces. Soda blasting will remove soot from concrete block, wood and metal framing, trusses and plywood decking, thereby reducing the cost of replacing expensive building materials and saving a lot of demolition and re-construction. It will not compromise the structural integrity of any building. Additionally, the dust created when blasting is often, and somewhat wrongly, characterized as a disadvantage when using the process for restoration. In actuality, the baking soda changes the pH (or “neutralizes”) the odor-causing soot and fire residue, thereby eliminati...
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Remediating mold in a warehouse

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Recently we were brought into a situation where a warehouse was being retrofitted for a new customer. Within the old warehouse were misting units that were used to provide a light mist to fresh produce being stored for distribution. Over the years, mold had built up on the units and now that the units were being removed and replaced, the mold needed to be remediated prior to the safe removal of the misting machines. The mold spores did not appear to be active. This type of abrasive blasting uses baking soda (technically referred to as sodium bicarbonate) blasted using pressurized air, to target mold growth on surfaces. The sodium bicarbonate crystals, while similar to those used in your fridge to stop odors, are specifically engineered to be used as medium in the blasting process. The particles, when viewed under magnification, are sharp and angular like knives. However, the key feature of soda is that it is very soft and won't damage the substrate, e.g., PVC, ductwork, modern ...
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