As in many industrial sectors, mould and tool cleaning is of utmost importance for foundries. Optimum cleaning of the moulds and core boxes is particularly important, as this not only increases quality, but also optimizes productivity and costs. ASCO has successfully developed an innovative cleaning process which is perfectly suited for the foundry industry. Dry Ice Blasting in Foundries Mould and tool cleaning without production stop The ASCO dry ice blasting technology offers the following advantages: POWERFUL & GENTLE The hardness of dry ice pellets can be compared to the hardness of chalk. As a result, the surface structure of the cleaning surface is not damaged or changed in any way. Dry ice blasting is a gentle yet effective cleaning method. Unlike steel brushes or scrapers, dry ice blasting does not damage materials. ASCO’s unique nozzle technology with sophisticated aerodynamic flow behavior ensures optimum blasting result. COST SAVING Downtime of the objects or machines to be cleaned, interruptions of production and expensive disposal of hazardous waste are eliminated. TIME SAVING Cleaning of machines, tools, moulds, conveyors, etc. can be performed during the ongoing production process. Since this cleaning technology is dry and non-abrasive, it can be applied directly onto the object to be cleaned. This way, downtime can be reduced to a minimum. Cooling or, conversely, heating of tools is not necessary, This saves valuable time. ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY The pellets immediately change to a gaseous state on impact. Only the removed contamination remains. There is no need to dispose of the cleaning media. This reduces waste dramatically! No sewage - or cleaning and filtration of wastewater. No contamination by hazardous additives, chemicals etc. No remains of the cleaning media. Dry ice is basically non-toxic. Cleaning with dry ice is a dry and non-conductive cleaning process. By eliminating the use of sulvents and hazardous chemicals the dry ice cleaning technology is safe for people and environment. The equipment is light, mobile, low in maintenance, reliable and easy to operate. Advantages of combi-blasting: After prolonged dry ice blasting when removing coating in the mould, microparticles of the coating are compressed into the surface of the moulds, which leads to a smooth surface. On this smooth surface, the coating no longer holds, which makes abrasive cleaning of the mould necessary. This can be achieved with the ASCOJET 1708 Combi Blaster by supporting dry ice blasting at the push of a button with minimal use of abrasive additive.

How is this blasting method used? The ASCO Dry Ice Blasting Technology offers the possibility of cleaning dismantled moulds in cabins or of performing the cleaning operation directly on the mounted hot moulds. Many gravity die casting foundries use the second option to avoid expensive production stops and to attain higher quality thanks to more frequent cleaning. The moulds are not damaged, because the blasting material is non-abrasive. In practice, cleaning is nowadays done more often to completely avoid aluminum residues on the moulds surface. For instance, manufacturers of high quality aluminum...

The Process Dry ice is produced from liquid CO2 . Inside an ASCO dry ice pelletizer, the liquid carbon dioxide is expanded under controlled conditions to form dry ice snow (approx. -79 °C) is pressed into pellets by a corresponding extruder plate. The dry ice pellets are filled into the ASCO dry ice blasting unit and conveyed to the blasting gun. Here the pelets are accelerated with compressed air to a speed of up to 300 m/s and hit the moulds to be cleaned. The impact of the pellets creates a punctual thermal shock and kinetic energy which removes the contamination. The pellets immediately change...