Deep cryogenic tempering is a one-time, homogenous process that permanently and dramatically improves the performance and useful

life of metals in everything from brake rotors and performance engines to machine tools and gun barrels. Using a proprietary computercontrolled process, the metal is cooled slowly to deep cryogenic temperatures (-300), and slowly returned to room temperature, then heat-tempered as the final step. Computer technology allows us to regulate temperatures to 1 degree, accurately controlling Cryo tempering in accordance with the material and mass of your parts. Although not apparent to the naked eye, the improvements to the metal are significant. Deep cryogenic tempering creates dramatic increases in abrasive wear resistance and durability. The increases in tensile strength, toughness and stability couple with the release of internal residual stresses. Working: Deep cryogenic processing creates a large amount of fine or small carbides that precipitate uniformly throughout the lattice structure. This greatly improves the wear properties of metal. The process also completes the martensitic phase change which creates a metallurgically improved and stabilized alloy. Benefits: Increased resistance to wear in most metals, plastics, nylon and other materials. Longer life from metal parts & tools. Some specific applications have shown an increase in life of up to 60 times. The increase depends on the alloy, application and prior heat treating history of the item. Lower residual stress. Greater strength & toughness. Little or no change in yield or tensile strength. Little or no increase in hardness. More uniform hardness. Greater dimensional stability. One-time permanent treatment. Re-sharpening or redressing of worn tools does not destroy the effects of the treatment. Tools may be new, used, sharp or dull, prior to treatment. Less stock is removed during sharpening, so the tool can be sharpened a greater number of times. Reduced downtime for changing or sharpening parts. Reduced costs for tooling, downtime & maintenance. These benefits add up to higher efficiency and lower production costs for your operation. Other benefits: Lower electrical resistance. Approximately 5-7% reduction in many alloys. Higher signal to noise ratios in some electronics. Improved vibrational characteristics. More rapid and more even heat dissipation, resulting in less warping. Cryogenics Process: The parts are cooled at a controlled rate to -320F over a period of hours. Upon reaching this temperature, the chamber is flooded with liquid nitrogen to ensure an even temperature throughout the chamber. The parts are held at this temperature for a minimum of 20 hours, after which the temperature in the chamber is slowly allowed to return to ambient. The temperature is carefully controlled to avoid thermal shock as well as frost and condensation. Cryogenic processing is not a substitute for heat treatment, but rather an extension of the heating - quenching - tempering cycle. Normally, when an item is quenched, the final temperature is ambient. The only reason for this is that most heat treaters do not have cooling equipment. There is nothing metallurgically significant about ambient temperature. The cryogenic process continues this action from ambient temperature down to -320 degrees.

In most instances the cryogenic cycle is followed by a heat tempering procedure. As all alloys do not have the same chemical constituents, the tempering procedure varies according to the material's chemical composition, thermal history and/or a tool's particular service application. The entire process takes 3-4 days. The Process is Environmentally Friendly The cryogenic process is 100% friendly to the environment. No harmful chemicals are used. Only nitrogen is released into the atmosphere during the process. The nitrogen used in processing was liquefied from the atmosphere, which is 78% nitrogen. It is released back into the atmosphere during the process. No waste products are left over after processing. The process helps its users make more efficient use of natural resources and energy, resulting in a cleaner environment.