300Degrees Cryogenic Processing

300Degrees Deep Cryogenic Processing is a thermal cycling process that incorporates state of the art computer controlled equipment to consistently monitor the product's temperature in a very controlled state. This produces an even distribution of relieved stress in the material and extends the life sometimes as much as two to five times.

Dependent upon the makeup of the material, 300Degrees Deep Cryogenic Processing will cycle the temperature in a manner to slowly render change to eliminate the possibility of thermal shock and a dimensional disaster to the product. Plating of any kind should be done before the process as it will form a more permanent bond with the metal, but any finish machining of a piece should be done post processing. Metallic parts are also re-tempered in the Deep Cryogenic Process.

The process begins at room temperature by going  through about an eight-hour descent to 300 below, once there, stay there for 8 to 24 hours depending upon the materials, then come back to room temperature very slowly again.  This gives the metal more dimensional stability, and on the steel parts, it actually brings more carbide out to the wear surface.  This gives parts much greater stability, increased wear resistance, reduced hot spots, increased heat transfer, renders them easier to machine, and overall more consistent.

In addition to metals, nylon and some plastics have shown an extraordinary ability to withstand wear. Even something as ordinary as nylon hosiery will show exceptional wear qualities upon Deep Cryogenic Processing.

The technical details about deep cryogenic processing are provided in the following articles.

Bringing Cryogenics in From the Cold by Chris Koepfer a March 2001 article in Modern Machine Shop magazine.

If you want a little more detail Basics of Cryonics Metallurgy is good article on how cryogenic processing works. Author unknown. Date, circa 1998.

If you want a very detailed scholarly review of the process the Role of Eta-carbide Precipitations in the Wear Resistance Improvements of Fe-12Cr-MO-V-1.4C Tool Steel by Cryogenic Treatment.