We’ve all seen dry ice – in science class, in the shipment of Omaha steaks, and countless other places in our everyday lives. But what exactly is dry ice made out of? Why is it called Dry Ice? Is it harmful to the environment?  We will provide you with answers to all of these questions and more as you read further.

What is Dry Ice Made Of?

Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide or CO2.  It is rarely seen in its solid state, because the temperatures required to keep the atoms in a solid form must be so low, that it rarely exists in nature.  CO2 is produced by humans and animals every day as we exhale.  The temperature needed to keep carbon dioxide in its solid state is -70 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.  Dry ice is created by gathering carbon dioxide (usually as a byproduct of some other manufactured item) and compressing that gas until it reaches its non-natural liquid state.  The pressure is then quickly removed which causes a rapid drop in temperature, enough to freeze the carbon dioxide into large blocks or small pellets.  The large blocks are the most popular because they last longer due to their relatively small surface area.

Why is it Called Dry Ice?

There is no naturally occurring liquid form of carbon dioxide, which means that it goes straight from solid to gas when melting.  In fact, this melting process has its own unique name since it skips the liquid state and goes straight to gas.  When dry ice “melts” it is called sublimation.  Because of its relatively mess-free sublimation process, dry ice is popular in keeping perishable items cold when on cross country trips.  The relatively clean nature of CO2 has also contributed to its popularity as a method of pressure washing.  This method is called Dry Ice Blasting and leaves behind no residue when cleaning the surfaces of machines or other hardware.

Is Dry Ice Eco-Friendly?

Dry ice is absolutely eco-friendly.  Because its creation is usually based off of chemicals that are a result of other products being made, carbon dioxide does not really require any additional chemical reactions to be created.  CO2 is a naturally forming gas in our atmosphere, and although its overabundance has been the scapegoat for global warming, its use in the creation of dry ice does not contribute negatively to this phenomenon. Dry ice used commercially is actually better for the environment than many of its alternatives because it does not generate any additional waste.  If you are environmentally conscious, do some research and determine if there are any dry ice alternatives to components of other services you already use such as blasting, shipping, etc.

Dry ice has many uses, and is a phenomenon of nature. Not too many of us think about how it is created or what impact it might have on the environment, but hopefully after reading this article, you walk away better informed on the lookout for new ways to incorporate its benefits into your daily life.

Citations:

• By Christopher from Salem, OR, USA (Fun with Dry Ice 2 Uploaded by Diaa_abdelmoneim) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

About the Author:  Aaron Garcia is a representative of Midwest Dry Ice Blasting, a dry ice cleaning company from Minnesota specializing in industrial & production plant cleaning.  For more information about their services, please visit www.midwestdryiceblasting.com.