IDS 2000
June 13-16, 2000, Knoxville, TN
APPLICATION OF ICE PARTICLES FOR SURFACE DECONTAMINATION
E. S. Geskin
B. Goldenberg, D. Shishkin, K. Babets, O. Petrenko
Laboratory of Waterjet Technology, ME Department
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ 07102
ABSTRACT
In a number of cases the contaminant does not penetrate
into the substrate body and remains on the surface as a soil. It
can be grease, dirt, particles, etc. At these conditions the
decontamination is reduced to the deposit removal with no
surface modification and with no escape of off-products. Our
study shows that the ice-air stream is suitable for such a
treatment. It was demonstrated that this jet enables us to
remove a deposit from a highly sensitive surface with no surface
damage. The off-stream can be completely contained and air and
water recycled. In this paper we discuss design of the systems
used for water freezing and generation of ice jets as well as
results of the cleaning applications of the ice jets. The
performed exp eriments demonstrated the feasibility of surface
decontamination using ice particles.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
In our previous works the formation and application of ice-
waterjet (IWJ) was investigated (1-5). Several systems for icejet
formation were tested, and a comparatively stable process was
designed. Experimental study of the ice-assisted cutting and
cleaning was carried out. We demonstrated that the addition of
ice particles into a water stream enhances the machining ability
of the stream. The properties of IWJ were similar to those of the
abrasive waterjet, and feasibility of machining of hard-to-
machine materials was demonstrated. However, the rate of
material removal by IWJ was much lower than theoretically
expected. In order to investigate the reason for the insufficient
process productivity, we numerically investigated the
entrainment of ice particles by the waterjet. We found that the
main reason for the low process productivity was melting of ice
particles in the mixing chamber. Thus, prevention of particles
destruction is the necessary condition for process improvement.
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The use of the ice particles is simplified if the particles are
entrained in the air stream (6,7). We investigated the application
of ice-airjet (IAJ) for surface cleaning. As the result
demonstrated, at the optimal range of process conditions, this
jet constitutes a precision tool for selective material removal
operations. A number of experiments were carried out in order to
demonstrate the machining ability of the air-ice jet. Various
electronic devices (computers, calculators, electronic games,
and watches) were disassembled, and their electronic boards
were contaminated by grease and metal powder. Then the
boards were cleaned and reassembled. The computer,
calculators, and watches worked normally. Other experiments
involved degreasing, depainting, and deicing of liquid crystals,
polished metals, optical glass, fabric, removal of emulsion from a
film, etc. The feasibility of the damage and pollution-free
decontamination of highly sensitive surfaces was demonstrated.
Because the system was designed to produce fine particles, it
was not applicable for removal of heavy deposits, for example,
rust. Modification of the operational conditions, including an
increase of the particle size, will address this problem. A generic
environmentally friendly surface processing technology is
emerging as a result of the above experiments.
The necessary condition for the adoption of icejets by the
industry is the development of a reliable and inexpensive
technology for generation of ice particles. The process should
be reasonably simple and the velocity, the size, and the
temperature of particles should vary in a wide range. The
principal effort of this stage of the work was directed toward the
development of such a technology. Three freezing technologies
were tested. The first one involved crushing of ice blocks
generated elsewhere. The second process was based on the
formation of particles in the course of water freezing. Finally, we
explored freezing of water droplets submerged into liquid
nitrogen. The experiments showed that the first two
technologies were the most suitable for practical applications
and particles generated in the course of ice crushing and
freezing of the water stream. The generated particles were
supercooled and entrained by the air stream. The developed jet
was used for various cleaning applications. The performed
experiments demonstrated the feasibility of the use of
developed technology in the industrial environment.
of crushing, 8- the intermediate supply bunker #1, 9- the
amortizator of the intermediate supply bunker #1, 10- the
electromagnetic vibrator, 11- the intermediate supply bunker #2,
12- the amortizator of the intermediate supply bunker #2, 13- the
intermediate supply line, 14- the electrical heater, 15- the
insulation enclosure of the intermediate supply line, 16- the
adjustable speed and force vibrator, 17- the vibration transfer
stainless steel rods.

2.0 ICE CRUSHING TECHNOLOGY

The ice crushing system operated as follows (Figs. 1 and 2).
Ice cubes are cooled by the cold cold air down to the
temperature of -50C and are supplied into the first stage of
crushing. Here the piston 1 moves ice to the rotating knives 2.
The obtained coarse particles are supplied to the screw
conveyer of the second stage. This conveyer delivers particles
to the rotating knives, which generate fine particles. These
particles are supplied into bunker 8 and then to the vibrator 10.
The vibrating rod 9 assures continuity of the flow through the
bunker 9. The vibrator 10 supplies particles to the bunker 12 and
then to the tube 13. The suction created by the water nozzle
assures delivery of the particles to the nozzle head. The heater
14 prevents clogging of the entrance port. Vibration of the
crushers, bunkers, and intermediate lines assures continuity of
the powder flow. The rate of the vibration as well as operations
of both stages of the crushing is controlled by PC via the
microprocessor MP. The crusher, bunkers, and vibrator 10 are
located within the insulated enclosure. The supply line 13 is
also located in the enclosure. The air at the temperature of -70C
is supplied into the enclosures. The tests showed the stability
of the operation of this system.
Figure 2. The system for ices
crushing. General view.

3.0 WATER FREEZING TECHNOLOGY

Figure 1. Schematic of the System for Ice Formation.
1-the first stage of crushing, 2- the piston, 3- the knives
motor of the first stage of crushing, 4- the piston motor, 5- the
second (precise) stage of crushing, 6- the knives motor of the
second stage of crushing, 7- the amortizator of the second stage
A reliable system for ice-airjet formation was constructed
using online freezing (Figs. 3, 4). The system operates as
follows: city water is supplied into a steel pipe; the walls of the
pipe are cooled by refrigerant or liquid nitrogen; and the water
within the pipe is driven by an auger. The operational
conditions (rates of water and refrigerant supply, refrigerant
flow rate) assure formation of ice particles at a desired rate.
Figure 5 shows that the produced ice is coming out of the pipe
in the form of a cylinder. This ice cylinder consists of fine ice
particles depicted on Figure 6. The size and the temperature of
the particles are effectively controlled. It was found that the
generated stream consists of almost homogeneous ice particles.
The generated particles are accumulated in a bunker. From
this bunker the particles are driven by motive air into the mixing
chamber of the blasting gun. The generated ice-air stream is
shown in Fig. 7. The system generates a stable jet. It is also
shown that the particle flow rate can vary in a wide range.

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4.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
In the course of this study, air pressure was maintained at
80 psi, the nozzle diameter was 5 mm, the mass ice flow rate was
35 g/min, and the volumetric flow rate was 60 cm3/min. The size
of the ice particles ranged from 0.5 to 3 mm. In the course of
experimental study, IAJ was used for cleaning of various
sensitive surfaces. One of experiments involved depainting of
CD (Fig. 8). After cleaning, the disabled CD operated normally.
Another experiment involved cleaning of rubber-plastic plates
jointed by the glue (Fig. 9A, B). The glue was completely
removed from the surfaces with no damage to substrate. Other
experiments involved successful depainting of rubber, plastic,
organic glass, cleaning of painted metals and plastics,
degreasing, removal of carbon deposit and flash rust, etc. No
surface damage was found in course of the visual and
microscopic evaluation of the generated surfaces. However,
processing of wood samples showed ability of the selective
material removal by the impinging IAJ.
5.0 DISCUSSION
The developed system enables us to generate ice particles
at the desired rate and at the desired conditions. The performed
experiments were concerned with the application of these
particles for decontamination of various surfaces. It was shown
that the generated jet is able to remove deposit from different
substrates, including the soft ones at comparatively weak
deposit-substrate adhesion. However, the increase of particles
diameter and velocity will enable us to use the jet for removal of
heavy deposit, milling, etc. At sufficient kinetic energy, ice
particles can be used, as it was shown in our previous
experiments, for machining of metals, ceramics, and composites.
In order to achieve this goal, the developed icemaker will be
integrated into the waterjet system. The cleanliness and
simplicity of the developed technology enables us to generate a
large amount of ice and use it for the treatment of very large
surfaces, for example, for deicing of roads.
6.0 CONCLUDING REMARKS
The performed study was limited to the use of ice particles
for deposit removal. Surface decontamination also involved
entrapping of off-products, separation of debris from the
working fluid (air, water), and recycling of water and air. The
special provisions for debris containment and recycling of the
working fluids must be added to the system above. However,
the design of the corresponding devices depends on the
surface to be processed and will be constructed specially for
this surface. At the same time, the systems for ice powder
generation and stream formation are generic, and the proposed
versions of these systems can be used for decontamination
practice.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The work was supported by NSF Grant DDM9312980.
REFERENCES
(1) E. S. Geskin, L. Tismenetskiy, E. Bakhromi, F. Li,
“Investigation of Ice Jet Machining,” Proceedings of
International Symposium on Electric Machining, Lausanne,
Switzerland, pp. 833-890, 1995.
(2) E. Geskin, L. Tismenetskiy, E. Bakhromi, F. Li,
“Investigation of Icejet Machining,” Proceedings of 1995 NSF
Design and Manufacturing Grantees Conference, San Diego,
CA, 1995.
(3) E. Geskin, L. Tismenetskiy, E. F. Li, , “Investigation of
Icejet Machining,” Proceedings of 1996 NSF Design and
Manufacturing Grantees Conference, Albuquerque, NM, 1996.
(4) E. Geskin, L. Tismenetskiy, E. F. Li, D. Shishkin,
“Investigation of Icejet Machining,” Proceedings of 1997 NSF
Design and Manufacturing Grantees Conference, Seattle, WA,
1997.
(5) E.S. Geskin, L. Tismenetskiy, F. Li, P. Meng and D.
Shishkin, “Investigation of Icejet Machining,” Proceedings of
9th American Waterjet Conference, Houston, TX, August, pp.
281-290, 1997.
(6) E. Geskin, D. Shishkin, K. Babets, “Investigation of
Icejet Machining,” Proceedings of 1999 NSF Design and
Manufacturing Grantees Conference, Long Beach, January 1999.
(7) E. S. Geskin, D. Shishkin, K. Babets, "Application of Ice
Particles for Precision Cleaning of Sensitive Surfaces,” 10th
American Waterjet Conference, Houston, TX, August 1999.
(8) E.S. Geskin, D. Shishkin, K. Babets, "Ice, Cryogenic and
Polymer Added Jets," Chapter in the Book, “Abrasive Water
Jet, a View on Future,” published by Institute for Industrial
Technologies and Automation, pp. 315-335, June 1999.
 Figure 5. The stream of ice particles exiting the
freezer. Notice well-organized particles flow.

Figure 3. The system for ice-air jet formation.

Figure 6. Ice particles.

Figure 4. Schematic of the system for ice

powder formation. Figure 7. The ice-air stream.

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 A-Before cleaning, the surface is contaminated by the
residue of glue.
B-After cleaning, no glue remains on the open surface.
Disks diameter- 4", contaminated area - 1/8", process
duration- 2 min

Figure 8. Working Surface of CD. The surface

was painted and then decontaminated. After
cleaning, CD performed normally. No change in
sound was noticed.

Figure 9 (A).

Figure 9 (B). Removal of glue (Weldbound) from

the plastic and rubber surfaces. The glue was
used for joining the plastic and rubber disks.