Handling dry ice when shipping Henkel products (Dry Ice Shipment)

When shipping products – such as Henkel adhesives – with the help of dry ice (dry ice shipment), there are a few rules to follow. In this article, we therefore look at the safety requirements when using dry ice for product transportation – also known as dry ice shipping or dry ice delivery.

What is dry ice?

Many people wonder what dry ice is made of. The answer: dry ice consists of carbon dioxide (CO2), in solid form. The temperature of dry ice is -78.64 °C. Ice made from water only reaches a temperature of -18 °C.

At an ambient temperature of -78.5 °C and higher, the solid dry ice changes its physical state and evaporates without leaving any residue. This process, in which a substance changes directly from a solid to a gaseous state, is called sublimation in thermodynamics.

Dry ice orCO2 gas has the following properties:

  • non-flammable
  • odorless
  • tasteless
  • basically non-toxic, but symptoms similar to poisoning possible if concentrations are too high
  • Expands greatly during sublimation (1 kg dry ice = 541 lCO2 gas)
  • CO2 is 1.5 times heavier than air, which is why it accumulates near the ground

However, even if dry ice orCO2 gas is non-toxic in itself, it can lead to respiratory problems, as theCO2 gas displaces the oxygen in the air at higher concentrations, which can lead to suffocation. Furthermore, excessive concentrations ofCO2 can lead to symptoms similar to poisoning, such as drowsiness, muscle tremors, shortness of breath, blurred vision and fainting.

Rules for handling dry ice

In view of its special properties, the following rules must be observed when using dry ice:

  • Dry ice must not be sucked or swallowed, as this can lead to cold burns with loss of tissue (dry ice is not ice cream and should be kept away from children).
  • When using dry ice, you should wear protective gloves to avoid frostbite and cold burns; you should also wear tight-fitting safety goggles.
  • When handling dry ice, you should use tongs, shovels or trowels as required – for example, when removing, filling or decanting.
  • Due to the displacement of oxygen byCO2 gas, the inhalation of large quantities ofCO2 gas should always be avoided.
  • Entering premises where dry ice is stored should be avoided as long as they are not properly ventilated; in principle, however, dry ice should not be stored or transported in unventilated premises, but care should always be taken to ensure good ventilation; low-lying premises such as cellars are therefore not suitable for storing dry ice.
  • Dry ice should not be transported in the driver’s cab or in the passenger compartment, but only in gas-tight, partitioned cargo compartments or gas-tight, partitioned luggage compartments.

Due to the strong expansion during the vaporization of dry ice, it should never be stored in airtight containers, otherwise these containers may burst or explode due to the increasing pressure.

For this reason, dry ice should not be stored in a freezer, refrigerator or cool box.

How long does dry ice stay cold?

The answer to the question of how long dry ice stays cold depends on various factors, such as the insulation of the container in which the dry ice is stored, the amount of dry ice and the outside temperature.

As a rough guide, the cooling effect of 9 kilograms of dry ice stored in a thermo-styrofoam box at an outside temperature of 18°C lasts for around three to four days. Approximately 15 to 30 percent of the dry ice evaporates within the first 24 hours.

Storage of Henkel adhesives

Many Henkel adhesives must be stored at -40 degrees Celsius. Temperatures of -40 degrees Celsius cannot be achieved with a standard commercial freezer. Instead, special freezers are used, which are also used for the storage of laboratory products or products from the pharmaceutical industry. In these special freezers, temperatures are recorded using a temperature sensor and a data recording device. These temperature records can be read out using a USB stick. If there is a malfunction in the cooling process, the chest freezer triggers an optical and acoustic alarm.

Transportation of Henkel adhesives

The temperature requirements for the storage of Henkel adhesives must also be met when transporting these products. In order to achieve transport temperatures of -40 °C, thick-walled polystyrene boxes are used in conjunction with dry ice.

We will be happy to answer any further questions about the use of dry ice

If you still have questions about the use of dry ice, especially in relation to the dry ice shipment of Henkel products, simply contact the experts at cleanroom and ESD dealer abovo without obligation.

The best way to contact the abovo experts is by e-mail (info@abovo.ch) or by telephone (+41 32 552 44 44).