Frequently Asked Questions
On this page you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions. Is your question not listed? Please contact us.
General questions
What is dry ice?
Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2). It has the unusual property of subliming. This means that it changes from a solid to a gas without a liquid intermediate phase. This is where the name dry ice comes from. It leaves no moisture behind. The product has a constant temperature of -79 C°, regardless of the quantity.
What is the temperature of dry ice?
The temperature of dry ice is -79 degrees Celsius. Much colder than normal ice (about 3 times the cooling capacity compared to water ice). It looks like real ice, but in reality it is frozen CO2. Around 195 Kelvin the solid form of dry ice changes into gaseous form, there is no liquid intermediate phase. For this reason dry ice is also called smoke ice.
Sometimes dry ice is used in combination with other means and a temperature of -100 degrees Celsius is reached. You can not just hold dry ice with your bare hand, that is why we offer means and services that ensure that dry ice is always delivered safely.
Learn more about dry ice temperature.
Is dry ice safe?
- If you use dry ice as it is intended, dry ice is safe. The basic rules are as follows:
- Wear gloves. Direct contact with skin will cause burns.
- Store dry ice in ventilated areas.
- Never store dry ice in an airtight container.
- Dry ice is not suitable for children. Always supervise. Do not let children crawl on the ground because CO2 sinks to the ground.
- Dry ice is not a toy. It can be dangerous if used incorrectly.
- Do not add dry ice to drinks unless in a suitable secure container such as the IceBubbler.
- If you transport dry ice by car, make sure you ventilate the car well. Check that the air circulation mode is not activated and keep in mind that too high CO2 values can be harmful. Always transport it in the trunk.
Quantity and storage
How long does dry ice last?
It depends on many circumstances, 10kg can be used up in minutes when put in hot water for big smoke effects. But when used for smaller more subtle smoke effects you can work with it for 2 hours.
We ship the dry ice in sturdy polystyrene boxes in which the dry ice remains in good quality for between 3 and 5 days, depending on where it is stored. The best way is to place the sealed packaging in the freezer. At room temperature, 10% to 15% of the dry ice evaporates per day. The colder you store it, the less it evaporates per day.
How much dry ice do I need?
For small presentations, subtle effects or for a single scene in a play, our 10kg packaging is ideal. For large effects or long-lasting fog, we recommend the 25kg packaging.
What if I only need a very small quantity?
For shipping we use a minimum quantity of 5 kilograms. Shipping smaller quantities would lead to an unacceptably greater evaporation during transport.
How do I store my dry ice?
It is best to store dry ice in an insulated place. The better the insulation, the slower the dry ice sublimates. The box in which the dry ice is delivered by us is extremely suitable for storage. Dry ice evaporates quickly and therefore does not have a long shelf life. Our packaging is specially made so that the dry ice can "breathe". In this way, the dry ice remains good for longer, despite the original short shelf life.
Never store dry ice in an airtight or glass container. The sublimation of dry ice causes pressure to build up if the container is airtight. In gas form, the CO2 takes up up to 800 times as much space.
CO2 is heavier than air and will therefore sink to the ground. An increased concentration of CO2 in the air is dangerous (suffocating), which is why it is important that you do not store dry ice in closed spaces such as cellars, the hold of a boat or a walk-in refrigerator. The danger arises, for example, if dry ice is stored regularly; slowly but surely the concentration of CO2 will increase without you noticing. (It is possible to store your dry ice including the box in a normal refrigerator/freezer at home; then place the dry ice with packaging and all in the freezer. Because it will be opened regularly, the CO2 content will automatically decrease and there is no danger.)
Some materials can be damaged by direct contact with dry ice. Glues and sealants become brittle and breakable. Be aware of this when using it in the kitchen.
Learn more about storing dry ice.
Dry ice fog/smoke
What is dry ice fog / dry ice smoke?
If you add dry ice to warm water, a dense white 'mist' is immediately created. This mist consists of very small water droplets (just like natural mist). What happens is that the dry ice changes to gas in the water. The water is, as it were, atomized by the released CO2. Water is also removed from the air by the evaporating CO2, which also remains suspended.
In short, the dry ice cloud is largely exactly the same as a normal fog bank (only a slightly higher concentration of CO2. Because CO2 is heavier than air, the cloud will mainly move over the ground, and for example also down a staircase. It will also move around people as they walk through it. Dry ice smoke has no odor, contains no chemicals and leaves no oily residue.
How do I make dry ice fog?
To create fog on stages, it is best to use a dry ice fogger. For large spaces (complete stage or dance floor) you should count on a consumption of 20 kg for 8-10 minutes. Add dry ice to a container with hot water (around 50 C°) and the fog will be created immediately. The dry ice effect will stop if there is too much dry ice in the water and it has cooled down too much (or even frozen). For this reason, it is necessary to keep heating the water for a long-lasting effect. For example, by using a rice cooker on the lowest setting. Be careful, water that is too hot will ruin the dry ice effect because the smoke will rise too high.
Dry ice business
Are there any costs associated with using the containers?
No, there are no costs involved. You only pay for the transport.
Can I place a repeat order?
Yes, that is possible. You can have a quantity of dry ice delivered once or several times a week without having to place an order for it each time. Please contact our customer service for this.
How much dry ice can I order per container?
We offer containers from 150 kg to 400 kg.
Is it possible to order dry ice discs?
Yes, that is possible. Contact our customer service for a customized quote.
Dry ice blasting
How does dry ice blasting work?
Dry ice is a commonly used method to clean machines and vehicles, think of contamination such as oil, grease, dye, glue or moss. Using compressed air, dry ice granules are blasted against the surface. Because a temperature difference occurs between the dry ice and the surface (dry ice is -79 °C), cracks appear in the contamination. This causes the contamination to come loose. Dry ice is an environmentally friendly cleaning method without residual waste because the dry ice evaporates.
Other
Do you also deliver to private individuals?
Yes, we also deliver to private individuals.
Mag ik droogijs retoureneren?
Helaas is retourneren niet mogelijk wanneer je bestelling met droogijs is verzonden.
Droogijs verdampt (sublimeert) snel bij kamertemperatuur, waardoor het niet mogelijk is om het product in oorspronkelijke staat terug te sturen.
We adviseren je om de inhoud direct na ontvangst te controleren.