New Frontiers in Metal Treatment: Deep Cryogenic Treating of Metals and Other Materials

Deep Cryogenic Treating technology (processing of metals below -244F temperature) is making serious in roads into both consumer and industrial market applications. Some of its metal fabrication applications defy the conventional logic that the only effect it has is to convert retained austenite to martensite. A striking application that illustrates this is the treatment of automotive brakes. Common brake rotors are pearlitic cast iron, without any austenite. Some results of the influence of cryogenic treatment on the mechanical properties including wear resistance, hardness and fracture toughness of gray cast iron will be shown. In a similar manner, carbide cutting tools, mechanical gears and electronics, all show interesting effects that are not supported by the conventional theories.  This paper summarizes some of the recent research done worldwide and the scientific future of this emerging technology.