Title: Application of ice-air jet blasting in treatment of sensitive surfaces

Authors: Krzysztof Kluz, Ernest S. Geskin

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102-1982, USA. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102-1982, USA

Abstract: Application of water ice particles for precision cleaning was investigated experimentally. Several setups for ice particle generation and blasting were constructed. It was suggested that an efficient technology for formation of particles, in the range of 0.3–2.0 mm, involves ice crushing during water solidification. Freezing of water mist in a nitrogen bath constitutes the efficient technique to generate particles in the range of 15–25 microns. It was shown that ice-air jet containing larger particles is suitable for precision decontamination of metal, plastic, electronic and electromechanical parts, while the micron size particles are appropriate for processing of substrates in biomedical and food industries.

Keywords: ice blasting; sensitive surfaces; dermatology; abrasive technology; ice-air jet blasting; precision cleaning; ice particle generation; precision decontamination; substrate processing; metals; plastics; electronics; electromechanical parts; biomedical industry; food industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAT.2007.013849

International Journal of Abrasive Technology, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.59 - 77

Published online: 30 May 2007 *

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