C21: Alternatives to Chemical Pretreatment: Exploring Blast and CO2 Spray Cleaning Methods

When monitored and controlled closely, blast cleaning will greatly influence your overall production cost. The converse is also true. Abrasive management (including type and size selection), machine inspection, audits, and maintenance and performance checks will be part of our discussion. Three case studies will validate the practicality of the concepts being discussed. Finally, a simplified template to calculate operating costs for wheel and air machines will be presented.

This presentation examines the physics and process fundamentals of CO2 spray cleaning, how CO2 spray removes particles and residues, and its integration into automated manufacturing. Representative applications in automotive, medical device, and electronics manufacturing illustrate where dry, solvent-free CO2 spray delivers value. Key considerations for CO2 spray automation are detailed, including system configuration, ventilation, fixturing, and cleaning zone design, along with facility requirements such as equipment footprint, electrical demand, CO2 supply, clean, dry air, and supporting infrastructure. Two automotive paint preparation case studies will demonstrate CO2 spray as an enabling technology for 4-Wet paint processes and as a cost-efficient replacement for a 5-stage power wash system at a southeastern U.S. assembly plant. Attendees will gain practical guidance on selecting suitable applications, matching CO2 spray processes with automation strategies, integrating essential system components, and estimating operating and maintenance costs.