Cryogenics is the science that deals with both the production and use of a variety of materials at very low temperatures. An environment is termed cryogenic when the temperature is below the point at which permanent gases begin to liquefy. These gases include oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and helium.
Cryogenic temperatures range from -150°C to -273°C. At -273°C, known as “absolute zero”, the movement of molecules ceases and they are at their lowest energy state.
Chemical explanation of cryogenics
At such low temperatures, gases undergo a transition from the gaseous to the liquid state. For example, when oxygen is present at a temperature of -183° C, it changes to a liquid state.
These extreme temperatures change the physical and chemical properties of materials, which is a useful tool for companies that know how to use these extraordinary properties in different states.
Trexo uses cryogenics for its dry ice blasting service, a particularly effective (and environmentally friendly) method of cleaning industrial equipment.
What is cryogenic cleaning?
From production facilities in the pharmaceutical and food industries and integrated circuits in the electronics industry to molds in the metal industry and printing machines, many sectors benefit from cryogenic cleaning.
In general, the method is useful for the treatment of surfaces before applying industrial coating to protect the service life of the treated equipment. Cold causes an expansion between the surface to be cleaned and the contaminant particles, which in turn decontaminates the affected surface.
What are the benefits of cryogenic cleaning?
There are several good reasons to use dry ice to strip contaminants:
- Non-abrasive method, allowing equipment to be cleaned without risk of damage
- Does not use environmentally harmful products
- Fast and effective, reducing machine downtime
- Investment is quite low
Which industries use cryogenics?
At cryogenic temperatures, some material properties are significantly altered. Various industries benefit from this.
Here are the industries that use cryogenics the most:
Gas storage and transportation
With cryogenics, as gases are converted to liquids, companies can save a lot of space while reducing their transportation costs and the potential risks that arise when these chemicals are returned to a gaseous state.
The best known example is liquefied natural gas, a mixture of methane, ethane and other flammable gases. The use of liquefied natural gas significantly reduces the space occupied by up to 600 times compared to storage in gaseous form.
Transportation costs can therefore be significantly reduced.
Food preservation
Chemical reactions are much faster in the presence of heat, which can be a problem for keeping food fresh. To counter this problem, liquid nitrogen is applied to the food. The nitrogen absorbs the heat present in the food and preserves it.
The nitrogen content then evaporates, eliminating any potential threat to human health from this chemical treatment during consumption.
Electronics
Cryogenic temperatures allow electrons in the materials to move freely with little or no resistance, enabling them to behave like superconductors. As a result, these materials can be used in the fabrication of electromagnets for particle acceleration.
Aerospace
When stored as cryogenic fuels, oxygen and hydrogen become fuel sources that can be used to power rockets for space flight.
Surgery
Certain types of damaged biological tissue, including some tumors, can be removed from the body through cryosurgery. During cryosurgery, a probe or scalpel that has been cooled by a cryogenic liquid, such as liquid nitrogen, is used to freeze unhealthy cells to death.
These dead cells can then be naturally eliminated from the body through normal physiological processes.
Cryopreservation of cells and tissues
Biological cells or tissues obtained from animals, such as those acquired from experiments, are often stored in liquid nitrogen in the laboratory for extended periods of time.
This is a particularly useful tool when researchers want to study the macromolecules present in cells or tissues. In addition, researchers can use cryopreserved specimens for a variety of research applications at a later date.
Need a cryogenic cleaning specialist in Quebec? Call Trexo!
As you can see, there are many advantages to keeping equipment in good condition and maximizing its efficiency by controlling lower temperatures.
Nevertheless, there are other cleaning methods, some of which are sometimes more appropriate. It all depends on the industry, the equipment used and the work environment. This is why industrial cleaning should be done by specialists. At Trexo, we operate throughout Quebec and Ontario, working flexibly so that we don’t interfere with your operations.
If you need your equipment refurbished, or if you have any questions about our services, contact us by phone or by filling out the form on our contact page.