Over the course of the last few years, many Dry Ice Blasting (DIB) contractors have been increasingly adding Sponge-Jet systems to their range of equipment and services. While both surface preparation methods are used on a wide variety of substrates for cleaning and the removal of surface contaminants, each solution brings unique advantages to different projects. By combining these methods, contractors have the ability to expand their surface preparation capabilities and choose the best blasting methods for their application.
Dry Ice Blasting is a non-abrasive cleaning process known for removing surface contaminants, such as soot, oil, and carbon buildup. It does this by launching compressed, frozen carbon dioxide (CO₂) particles at the surface. Upon impact, the Dry Ice changes from a solid to a gas - a process known as sublimation. While an effective tool for removing surface contaminants, it’s impossible for this method to remove heavy rust and thick industrial coatings, let alone profile steel.
Sponge-Jet Blasting can pick up where Dry Ice Blasting leaves off. Sponge Media™ incorporates the best abrasive or micro-abrasive particles within high-performance synthetic sponge. As each particle hits the surface, it traps hazardous contaminants that would have otherwise become airborne and rebounds with low energy, creating a low-dust blasting environment. The diverse range of Sponge Media™ composites provide superior surface prep results for projects where profiling is necessary, as well as delicate cleaning on highly sensitive substrates. This allows contractors to address any project, whether it’s a historic preservation job or the removal of a tough coatings from steel.
Working with Sponge Media™ can be a straightforward process contractors familiar with Dry Ice Blasting. Dry ice blasting personnel typically require minimal retraining prior to Sponge Blasting, which allows contractors to seamlessly add Sponge-Jet services to their offerings.
OSHA refers to both Dry Ice and Sponge Media as an alternative, less toxic blasting material. OSHA notes that the first thing to be done to protect workers should be engineering controls, including using less toxic blasting material such as dry ice or sponge.
The addition of Sponge-Jet technology to DIB contractors' toolbox broadens the range of services they can offer, allowing them to meet the ever-changing needs of industries such as manufacturing, power generation, and transportation. By providing both Dry Ice Blasting and Sponge-Jet Blasting services, many contractors have found themselves better equipped to deliver precise cleaning and surface preparation solutions, strengthening their service value and project application capability.
