KoolWire Author
Published: July 12, 2026
Read: 2 min
In: Guides

What is Dry Ice?

Dry ice is pure, solid Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Dry Ice keeps items colder for much longer than traditional “wet ice” because dry ice is extremely cold, -109 degrees F (-78.5° C). Cry Ice sublimates into Carbon dioxide gas instead of melting, leacing no liquid mess to clean up, which is why dry ice blasting is a popular and enviornmental friendly way to clean.

 

How to use Dry Ice

Dry Ice temperature is extremely cold at -109.3°F or -78.5°C. Always handle Dry Ice with care and wear protective clothing or leather gloves whenever touching it. An oven mitt or towel will work.

  

 

Forms of Dry Ice

High Density Dry Ice Pellets

  • 1/8″ diameter dry ice pellets
  •  For use in dry ice blast cleaning systems
  • .For use in certain food processing applications.

BioCut

  • 5″ x 5″ x 2″
  • Used primarily in the Biotech medical and food shipping business

Dry Ice Standard Pellets

  • 5/8″ diameter dry ice pellets
  • Used primarily in frozen food applications
  • Used in meat processing plants
  • Used for transportation of blood plasma and lab specimens

Slabs of Dry Ice

  • Most common 10x10x2 (10 lbs)
  • Dry ice available in custom sizes processed and packaged to customer specifications.
  • Dry ice may be wrapped in kraft paper or in poly.

Block of Dry Ice

  • Standard dry ice block measures 10″ x 10″ x 12″
  • Approximately 60 lbs. each
  • Used for frozen food applications, especially in shipping ice cream.
  • Used in grocery warehouses

 

Physical Properties:

 

Property

Value 

Formula

CO2

Molecular Weight

44.01

Appearance

Colorless, odorless gas; colorless liquid, or white opaque solid (dry ice)

Density Solid (Dry Ice)

97.5189 lb./ft.3 at -109.3° F

Density Liquid

63.69 lb./ft.3 at 0° F

Density Gas

0.1234 lb./ft.3 at 32° F

Melting Point

-69.9° F, 75.1 PSIA

Boiling Point

-109.3° F (Sublimes)

Triple Point

-69.9° F, 75.1 PSIA

Critical Temperature

87.8° F

Critical Pressure

1069.4 PSIA

Critical Density

28.9519 lb./ft.3

Specific Heat Gas

0.1989 BTU/lb. ° F (60° F)

Specific Heat Liquid

0.53 BTU/lb. ° F (0° F)

Ratio of Heat Capacities

1.3

Latent Heat of Fusion (Triple Point)

85 BTU/lb. (69.9° F)

Latent Heat of Vaporization (Liquiflow)

122 BTU/lb. (0° F)

Latent Heat of Sublimation (Dry Ice)

246 BTU/lb. (-110° F)

Viscosity Gas

0.015 Centipoises (32° F)

Viscosity Liquid

0.14 Centipoises (0° F)

Thermal Conductivity Gas

0.0085 BTU ft./ft.2 ° F Hr. (32° F)

Thermal Conductivity Liquid

0.11 BTU ft./ft.2 ° F Hr. (0° F)

Surface Tension (Liquid)

8.23 Dynes/cm (0° F)

Solubility in H2O

1.79 ft.3 CO2 Gas/ft.3 H2O(32° F)

 

Dry Ice is currently being sold in our Albuquerque Location. For Questions or concerns please contact us.

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