AI30 Dry Ice Blaster: Dry-Ice-Only Cleaning vs Abrasive-Ready Systems
Can the AI30 Use Abrasive Media?
No. The AIOLITH AI30 and AI30 Plus are designed for dry ice pellets only. Do not add sand, walnut shells, glass beads or other abrasive media to the feed system.
If your application requires aggressive surface profiling, deeply pitted structural rust removal or abrasive coating removal, evaluate a dedicated abrasive process or the AIOLITH AI50, which is abrasive-ready.
Where Pure Dry Ice Blasting Works Best
Dry ice blasting uses compressed air to accelerate solid CO₂ pellets. The pellets sublimate after impact, so the dry ice itself leaves no spent blasting media. This makes the process useful for contamination removal where water or abrasive grit is undesirable.
- Grease and oil
- Adhesive residue
- Carbon buildup
- Ink and paper dust
- Mold and tooling residue
- Production-line contamination
AI30 Operating Envelope
| Hopper | 44 lb (20 kg) |
| Dry Ice Output | 0.66–1.32 lb/min |
| Pellet Size | 3 mm or smaller |
| Pressure | 87–116 PSI |
| Air Demand | 71–141 CFM |
| Practical Indoor Air Supply | About 80 CFM minimum; 90–120 CFM recommended for regular use |
When Abrasive Blasting Is Needed
Pure dry ice blasting is generally non-abrasive. It cleans contamination but does not intentionally create an anchor profile. For heavy corrosion, severe pitting or jobs that require removal of substrate material, use an appropriate abrasive method.
Safety
Dry ice becomes CO₂ gas during blasting. Provide adequate ventilation and appropriate PPE. Electrical equipment should be de-energized and handled under applicable lockout/tagout and site safety procedures.
Bottom Line
Use the AI30 for dry-ice-only, non-abrasive contamination removal. Use the AI50 or another appropriate abrasive process when the job requires abrasive media or aggressive surface preparation.
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