Dry ice blasting is similar in principle to sand blasting. Instead of sand, dry ice blasting uses high-density dry ice pellets, which are propelled onto a surface using compressed air. Unlike sand blasting, dry ice blasting is non-abrasive. When dry ice pellets hit a surface, such as a metal part contaminated with oil and grime, the dry ice pellets immediately sublimate (change in form solid to gas).

In the dry ice blasting unit, the pellets are accelerated by means of compressed air to speed of apprx. 300 m/s. The pellets striking the object generate an isolated thermo shock as a result, the coating to be removed contract and the successive pellets remove the coating and contaminations from the subsurface by means of their kinetic energy.

Directly after impact, the pellets sublimate (evaporate) as a gas backs into the atmosphere. The only residue is the removed coating. Only the removed contaminated coating has to be disposed off. No environmental polluting agent or procedure is used.