Dry Ice

Simply put, Dry Ice is Carbon Dioxide in solid form.

Carbon Dioxide that is a resulting by-product of many industrial processes (oil refining, ethanol production, fertilizer production, etc.) is captured, cleaned and compressed into a liquid state which allows for safe transportation. The liquid CO2 is then further processed and compressed into blocks or pellets of Dry Ice.

Since Dry Ice is formed from Liquid CO2, which cannot exist at atmospheric pressure, Dry Ice does not “melt” into a liquid as it warms, It remains “dry”. Instead, the Dry Ice sublimates as it absorbs heat, which means it changes from a solid directly into a gas without ever becoming a liquid.

The temperature of Dry Ice is -79° C or -110° F.

Never leave Dry Ice around unattended children.

Handling Dry Ice

Dry Ice should be handled only if you are wearing thick gloves or using towels or tongs to touch the product. Never let Dry Ice touch bare skin. Do not put Dry Ice in your mouth or in anyone’s clothing as a joke. Dry Ice will cause instant frostbite, or worse, upon contact with unprotected skin. For complete handling instructions and safety information, download the Dry Ice Handling and Safety Guidelines available on the Simcoe Gases Website.

Storing Dry Ice

As Dry Ice sublimates from a solid to a gas the CO2 expands significantly. This creates the potential for severely dangerous situations if improper storage protocols are not followed. Never store Dry Ice in an airtight container of any kind. Eventually the container will explode and be liable to severely injure anyone nearby. Do not store Dry Ice in a freezer or refrigerator.

Never store or use Dry Ice in an unventilated space. CO2 gas is heavier than air and will replace the air in a room as the Dry Ice sublimates, without adequate ventilation and airflow. Consult with the experts at Simcoe Gases to make sure your storage containers and usage plans are well within the safety guidelines available on the website. Dry Ice Handling and Safety Guidelines.

Transporting Dry Ice

When Transporting Dry Ice by car, always place the Dry Ice cooler, or other non-tightly sealed container, in the trunk of the vehicle or at least as far from the passengers as possible. Leave one or two windows at least slightly open to ensure fresh air ventilation. Do not rely on your vehicle’s AC or heating system to provide ventilation.

Using proper handling protective equipment (gloves, towels or tongs, for example) place a few pellets of Dry Ice in a slow cooker containing warm or hot water or in a bowl of hot water. The Dry Ice will lower the temperature of the water and eventually the fog effect will tail off until the water is reheated and more Dry Ice added. Be careful to not splash the hot water on yourself or anyone nearby.

Dry Ice is used for dozens of industrial and consumer purposes, from flash-freezing and transporting fresh-caught fish to pipe freezing and in many food production processes.

See more application examples here