Dry Ice FAQs
Everything you need to know about purchasing, handling, and storing dry ice – and more!
Where can I purchase dry ice?
You can order dry ice by phone and collect it from our Pt Adelaide Office 7 days a week or have it delivered.
Please call us for details – 0408 447 716
Do you have a minimum order?
We require a minimum order of 2kg
How much does dry ice cost?
Prices vary depending on the amount or type of dry ice you purchase. Please call us to inquire about rates for our dry ice or delivery services.
How much dry ice do I need?
It depends on the type of dry ice application you are using it for. As an example the wedding image on our home page with a dry ice effect during their first dance used 10kg of ice for 5 minutes of dance. Whatever application you are using dry ice for, contact us and we will be happy to help calculate how much you will need.
What are your hours of operation?
We are open 7 days a week for pickup or delivery from our Pt Adelaide office – you just need to phone ahead so we can arrange a time.
What is dry ice?
Dry Ice is frozen carbon dioxide, a normal part of our earth’s atmosphere. It is the gas that we exhale during breathing and the gas that plants use in photosynthesis. It is also the same gas commonly added to water to make soda water. Dry Ice is particularly useful for freezing, and keeping things frozen because of its very cold temperature: -109.3°F or -78.5°C. Dry Ice is widely used because it is simple to freeze and easy to handle using insulated gloves.
Does dry ice melt?
No. Dry ice goes through a process called “sublimation” in which a solid substance skips the liquid state and changes directly into a gaseous state.
What will prevent the dry ice from turning into a gas again?
Nothing will prevent the dry ice from “subliming.” Once it is out of the high pressure it must be insulated to reduce the rate of sublimation.
What should dry ice be put into, to insulate it?
A paper bag or wrapping tightly in newspaper will help reduce the sublimation rate. The ice wrapped in the paper should then be put into a suitable sized polystyrene container with a minimum amount of empty air space, or with packing to reduce the amount of free air space.
Does Dry Ice Supplies provide containers to ship the dry ice in?
Yes. We have several sizes of Styrofoam containers.
At what rate can I expect the dry ice to sublimate?
As a general rule, dry ice will sublimate at a rate of 1% per hour in a typical ice chest. This sublimation continues from the time of purchase – therefore, pick up dry ice as close to the time needed as possible. We can supply shipping containers or bring an ice chest or some other insulated container to hold the dry ice and slow the sublimation rate. Dry ice changes directly from a solid to a gas – sublimation – in normal atmospheric conditions without going through a wet liquid stage.
What type of industries/people use dry ice?
Dry ice is widely used within the following industries or applications:
•Laboratories
•Pharmaceutical Companies
•Hospitals
•Drug Manufacturers
•Universities & Elementary Schools
•Caterers
•Special Effects Companies
•Refineries
•Transport / Freight Forwarding Companies
•Fisherman & Campers
What are some benefits to using dry ice?
It is compact, dry and is extremely cold being -79 degrees Celsius.