Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide used as a short-duration refrigerant for samples, small shipments and emergency cold-chain maintenance where mechanical refrigeration is unavailable, sublimating to gas without leaving liquid residue.
In trade practice
Suppliers shipping laboratory samples or small trial parcels by air freight pack dry ice in insulated boxes with vented lids to prevent pressure build-up. IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations cap the quantity permitted per package and require shipper declarations, so logistics teams must confirm compliance before booking. A common mistake is under-declaring the dry-ice weight, which can result in shipment refusal or fines at origin.
In a specification
A sample-shipment specification may state the minimum dry-ice quantity in kilograms per parcel and require a vented, UN-approved insulated container to maintain the target temperature for a defined transit duration.