The ice blaster cometh
August 1st 2008 Kärcher says its latest ice blaster tackles grafiti and grime indoors and out without
chemicals, surface damage,water or mess
Kärcher's IB 15/240 Ice Blaster provides a portable, nonaggressive,
but thorough method of cleaning surfaces, tools,
moulds and machines without causing damage to the
original surface or to the environment.The machine can be used in
both indoor and outdoor areas and does not require chemicals. Ice
blasting is particularly suitable for removal of graffiti and for other
urban cleaning tasks, as it will not damage brickwork or paving.
The system uses dry ice pellets kept at -79ºC, injected into a jet of
compressed air, accelerated to speeds in excess of 150 m/s and then
fired at the surface to be cleaned.The abrupt cooling of the surface
causes a thermal shock and produces fine cracks in the top layer (in
this case spray paint). The dry ice pellets penetrate these cracks
and sublimate instantly (turn into a gas without becoming a liquid)
lifting the contaminant from the surface, and return to the
atmosphere as CO2 gas leaving only the contaminant behind. As
cleaning with dry ice is performed without chemicals or
detergents, and leaves no wastewater, it is environmentally friendly
and can be used in areas where cleaning with water is prohibited
or inconvenient. Unlike sand blasting, ice blasting keeps surface
abrasion to a minimum, and there is only the contaminant to collect
after cleaning has been completed.
The IB 15/80 is constructed out of stainless steel, and has a
removable side panel for easy maintenance.There are two large
pneumatic tyres and two small casters which give the unit excellent
mobility.The unit features a blasting pressure gauge, operating
hour meter, variable pressure and ice consumption to suit a range
of different applications and an emergency stop switch.There is
even an air/ice selector on the trigger gun to allow a choice of air
and ice or air only, ideal for removing any debris from the area being
blasted.
The unit comes standard with a hose, trigger gun and nozzle case
providing the user with everything needed to start work.A range of
additional nozzles are available to
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