Corporate Sustaining Member

Cryogenic Society of America

What is Cryogenic Processing?

Deep cryogenic processing involves lowering the temperature of an object to -320º F.  An object is placed into a sealed chamber at room temperature.  The chamber is sealed and the temperature is dropped to -320º over a period of several hours utilizing liquid nitrogen.  The chamber is then held at this temperature for several hours depending on the material being processed, then brought back, very slowly, to ambient temperature. Some items then require a tempering cycle, where the chamber will be slowly heated to up to +350º then allowed to return to ambient temperatures.  The process can take between 20 and 60 hours total, depending on the material being processed.  The entire process is entirely computer controlled and sealed to maintain absolute timing and temperature control.

The cryogenic cycle is an extension of standard heat treatment and creates outstanding increases in durability. A research metallurgist at the National Bureau of Standards states, “When carbon precipitates form, the internal stress in the martensite is reduced, which minimizes the susceptibility to micro-cracking.  The wide distribution of very hard, fine carbides from deep cryogenic treatment also increases wear resistance.  Deep cryogenically-cooled metals also develop a more uniform, refined microstructure with greater density.  Micro-fine carbide “fillers” are formed, which take up the remaining space in the micro-voids, resulting in a much denser, coherent structure of the tool steel.  The end result is increased wear resistance.”

Canam’s Cryogenic Processing Equipment