Not all dry ice media is equivalent. The pellet diameter, hardness, and feed rate together decide whether a blast pass cleans or damages the substrate. Buyers comparing quotes should ask what media a contractor uses — it's the single biggest variable in cleaning quality.
Standard pellet sizes
Industry-standard pellets run 3 mm (sub-aggressive, sensitive electronics and food-contact), 1.7 mm micro-pellets (delicate substrates and graphics), and shaved block at custom sizes for the most aggressive coating-removal scopes. Most of our work uses 3 mm; food and decal-adjacent jobs drop to micro-pellet.
Why pellet density matters
Density determines kinetic energy on impact. Loose, low-density pellets fracture before they reach the substrate and waste cleaning energy. Dense, freshly extruded pellets carry the full impact to the contaminant layer. We extrude on-site or take delivery within 24 hours of production for this reason.
Feed rate and pressure
More media is not always better. Excess feed rate generates static, increases noise, and can mask the surface from the operator's view. Most production cleaning runs at 2–4 lb/min at 80–120 PSI; specialty work runs lower. We dial both per asset.
What to ask a contractor
- What pellet size do you run on substrates like mine?
- Do you extrude on site or use pre-made pellets?
- What's the typical PSI and feed rate for this scope?
- Can you witness-test on a hidden area before the full pass?