Dry Ice Blasting in Aerospace Manufacturing and MRO
Composite tooling, engine components, and airframe assets need cleaning that removes residue without altering the substrate. Dry ice blasting meets that requirement.
Aerospace cleaning is defined by what you are not allowed to change. Substrate dimensions, coatings, and surface finish are all controlled, and media that embeds or abrades creates FOD and rework risk. Dry ice blasting cleans and leaves nothing behind — no media, no water, no residue.
Applications
- Composite layup tooling — release agent and resin buildup between cycles
- Autoclave tooling and bagging frames
- Engine components — carbon deposits on combustor and turbine hardware in MRO
- Landing gear components during overhaul
- Paint and primer removal on selected substrates with qualified parameters
- Ground support equipment and tooling
FOD and cleanliness
Because the media sublimates, there is no blasting media to migrate into an assembly, a duct, or an engine. The only residue is the contaminant itself, captured by vacuum. That property is the primary reason aerospace shops adopt dry ice over grit or bead in FOD-critical areas.
Qualification matters
Aerospace processes are qualified, not improvised. Expect to define media form, pressure range, standoff, dwell rules, and substrate acceptance criteria in a written procedure, validated on coupons before production use. A contractor who cannot document parameters is not ready for an aerospace scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dry ice blasting approved in aerospace?+
It is used widely, but approval is process- and OEM-specific. Parameters must be qualified against the applicable specification.
Will it affect composite tooling surfaces?+
At qualified parameters it removes release and resin buildup without altering the tool surface. Validation on a coupon is standard.
Can it be used inside an assembly area?+
Yes, with containment, vacuum capture, and CO₂ monitoring appropriate to the space.
Working to a written spec? request a capability review and we will document parameters before mobilizing.
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