Special Cargo Services is the dry ice specialist in the Netherlands. Not only do we use dry ice to pack your shipments, but we can also deliver this cooling material directly to you. You pick it up at our facility in Oude Meer, or we bring it to your location.
Special Cargo Services supplies dry ice in various formats: in pellets, blocks or slices. We can also re-ice your shipment. If too much dry ice has evaporated during your transport and the cargo is in danger of heating up, we will come to your location to replenish the dry ice.
Ordering is quick and easy using the online order form below. If you have questions about your order or need urgent delivery, please contact us: 020 655 6262.
The advantages of dry ice
Dry ice has several unique properties that make it an interesting product for various applications. In pharmaceuticals, it is used to cool vaccines, the hospitality industry uses it to make cocktails, and in industry, dry ice is used to clean large machines. Very fine dry ice pellets can be used for sandblasting; this is an excellent way to clean your equipment without leaving any residual product.
Dry ice has the following advantages:
- very suitable as a refrigerant because it is three times colder than (regular) water ice
- a natural product and not harmful to the environment
- leaves no moisture or other residue
- has no smell or taste
- is non-flammable and non-toxic
- free of bacteria
- Requires no cost to maintain.
What is dry ice?
Dry ice is CO2 (carbon dioxide) in solid form. It has a temperature of -79° Celsius. This makes dry ice three times colder than ice based on frozen water. It is made by cooling CO2 under high pressure until it liquefies. When the pressure is reduced, dry ice is created.
In its normal state, dry ice is a kind of snow, which is why it is also called carbon dioxide snow. To better transport, store or use it, it is compressed into blocks or pellets.
You should not confuse dry ice (CO2) with liquid nitrogen (N). Both can be used as refrigerants, but one comes in solid form and the other is liquid. Moreover, liquid nitrogen is much colder than dry ice with a temperature of -196º Celsius.
Sublimation
Once dry ice heats up, it begins to evaporate. This process is called sublimation. Unlike normal ice, this leaves behind not water, but gas. CO2 then loses its solid form and is released back into the air as a gas. Sublimation can therefore be dangerous without proper precautions. The process of sublimation continues relentlessly once it has begun. With special measures, this process can be slowed down.
The risks of dry ice
Dry ice offers many different benefits, but it is also a dangerous product. Therefore, you must use it carefully and wisely.
Extreme cold
First, dry ice is dangerous because of the extremely low temperature of the material. As such, it is harmful to bare skin when directly touched and can even cause burns. Therefore, it should never be handled without protective clothing or tools.
Choking risk
You must remember that dry ice is carbon dioxide, which as a gas is harmful to health. Vaporization releases this gas and, especially in poorly ventilated areas, can create dangerous situations, as it displaces oxygen and can lead to suffocation.
Explosion hazard
Like CO2 in gaseous form, dry ice is not flammable or explosive. Still, there is a danger of explosion if it vaporizes and the released gas has no way out. The buildup of the gas can cause it to pop or the container to rupture. For this reason, it should never be stored airtight.
Working safely with dry ice
Working with dry ice poses a variety of risks to workers. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers are required to protect their staff from this by making employees aware of the dangers. For that purpose, Special Cargo has developed the e-learning “Working safely with dry ice. Complicated? Not at all. In 1 to 2 hours you will learn to work with this hazardous substance. This e-learning is available in both Dutch and English. This is how you as an employer give substance to being a good employer.
Transporting and storing dry ice
Because of the dangers of dry ice, there are regulations regarding its transportation and storage. So keep this in mind and take appropriate measures to comply:
- Packaging must be able to withstand very low temperatures, prevent the release of gas and prevent the build-up of pressure.
- Packaging must be clearly visible and legibly marked with the UN number, ADR substance name and how it is applied (‘as a refrigerant’ or ‘as a conditioning agent’).
- Vehicles and containers carrying dry ice must carry a special warning sign that is easily seen by people who open it or want to enter it.
- Use the language of the country of dispatch for markings on packages, vehicles and containers and information in the transport document. For a language other than French, German or English, it must also be in these three languages. This is not necessary for transportation within the Netherlands, where Dutch is sufficient.
- Unpackaged dry ice must be separated from the metal of the transport unit by at least 30 millimeters. This can be done with wood or other material with low thermal conductivity.
Different ways to use dry ice
Dry ice is widely applicable in many different ways. Cooling is, of course, a common application, but more is possible.
Cooling
Ice has long been popular for cooling products. Dry ice offers the same benefits as ice, but is much colder. Thanks to the very low temperature, you can easily preserve all kinds of products. These include food items such as meat, dairy or vegetables and substances in laboratories, but also (corona) vaccines can be kept at an excellent temperature with dry ice.
Additional advantages of using dry ice for refrigeration include the fact that it simply evaporates and does not melt like ice and that you can easily keep products very cold without using heavy and expensive equipment. So it is also ideal for transportation.
Entertainment
In the entertainment industry, dry ice is widely used in creating a smoke effect. The sublimation, or evaporation, of dry ice releases carbon dioxide. So by adding it to hot water, for example, you speed up this process and there is a noticeable smoke.
The gas looks like fog, does not smell and leaves no residue. CO2 is heavier than air, so smoke always stays low to the ground. Always keep in mind that the space in which you use it is large enough and provides enough exits where the gas can go to prevent suffocation.
Hospitality
In addition to refrigeration, dry ice also offers opportunities in the preparation and presentation of food and beverages. It is especially popular for cocktails, as the smoke effect gives the drinks an extra special experience. Special mistysticks, holders that prevent dry ice from entering the cocktail itself, are used for this purpose.
Cooks who specialize in molecular cooking also use dry ice in the kitchen. This is also called cryogenic cooking, developed by chef Heston Blumenthal, renowned for his experimental dishes. For example, fish and seafood can be cooked by holding it over dry ice.
Dry ice blasting
Dry ice blasting is an effective and environmentally friendly method of cleaning surfaces. In this process, you blast pellets of dry ice under high pressure, which sublimate when they hit the surface. The combination of low temperature, force of impact and evaporation effectively removes dirt residue.
This is because the sharp difference in temperature causes cracks in the dirt. When the dry ice pellets are converted into gas, they then create very small explosions because the gas is 800 times larger in volume than the pellet. That sudden increase in volume “pushes” dirt off the surface, so to speak.
Compared to blasting with grit or sand, dry ice blasting is particularly environmentally friendly because it leaves no trace. Moreover, it is a gentle cleaning technique that leaves the surface otherwise intact. It is therefore ideal for safely cleaning walls or large machinery in industry.
Ordering your dry ice from Special Cargo Services
It is best to order dry ice from a reliable party. Special Cargo Services is an expert in the storage and transportation of dangerous goods. We make sure your delivery is delivered to the Schiphol area at the agreed time or is ready for pickup. In doing so, we ensure that appropriate packaging and labeling measures are already in place.
Buy dry ice in different sizes and quantities
You can buy dry ice from Special Cargo Services in a variety of sizes and quantities. Thus, we supply it in granules, blocks or slabs. We deliver within 24 hours and for the Schiphol region even: ordered in the morning, your order will be ready in the afternoon at our location on Brequetlaan. If you want it delivered to your company, that’s no problem either.
With us you can order dry ice starting at 25 kilos, but 50, 100 or 200 kilos is also possible, for example. If you order the dry ice pre-packaged, it comes in boxes per 25 pounds and/or deposit boxes for over 200 pounds. Please tell us your desired quantity when ordering. Keep in mind that sublimation continues incessantly, so order as soon as possible before use and do not order too little.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you buy dry ice?
You can buy dry ice online from various parties. If you order it from Special Cargo Services, you can be sure that your order will arrive properly and meet applicable safety guidelines. You can choose from pellets, blocks and slices and small quantities (from 10 kilograms) or very large quantities.
How cold is dry ice?
Dry ice has a temperature of -79° Celsius. This makes it three times colder than normal (water-based) ice cream.
How long does dry ice stay cold?
Dry ice heats up continuously under normal conditions. At room temperature, 1 kilogram of dry ice evaporates in about 24 hours. In an insulated container, you can obviously keep the ambient temperature low.
Is dry ice dangerous?
Because of its extremely low temperature, it is dangerous to touch dry ice directly. Therefore, always use gloves or special tools to handle it. In addition, sublimation (evaporation) releases carbon dioxide, which can lead to suffocation or an explosion if the gas cannot get away.
What can you use dry ice for?
You can use dry ice for many different purposes. It is suitable for cooling food or vaccines, making smoke for entertainment or cocktails, among other things, and you can clean surfaces by blasting the pellets.
