Systematic Development of Deep Cryogenic Treatment of Steels as the Next Processing Step in Emerging Industries

Deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) is a type of cryogenic treatment, where materials are subjected to temperatures below -150 °C, normally to temperatures of liquid nitrogen (-196 °C). DCT is a special technique used to change the properties and mechanisms of transformation of austenite in daughter phases in steels such as martensite and supports the development of carbides. It has been reported, that DCT changes properties of steels such as hardness, toughness, corrosion and wear resistance, as well as reducing density of defects in crystal structure etc ^[1,2]. Yet, some studies have reported no change in these properties or even deterioration when steels were subjected to DCT treatment ^[3]. In this study, a group of high-speed steels, tool steels and stainless steels frequently used in various industries were systematically tested for the influence of DCT on their mechanical, microstructural and tribological properties. Results were compared to conventional treatments with respect to each steel’s chemical composition (main alloying elements) and basic heat treatment parameters (austenitizing and tempering temperature) when combined with the application of DCT. The aim of this study is to comprehensively determine the influence of DCT on the properties of steels and to provide a systematic and in-depth approach to resolve the discrepancy between a variety of results and conclusions found in reviewed literature. As such this study is also one of the first well-predefined systematical approach studies to DCT of selected steels for tool applications used in industrial applications (automotive, aerospace, medicine, music, electronic, tool, 3D printing, gas and oil industry, biomaterials, nanotechnology etc.).

1. Barron, R. F., Heat Treating, 1974.
2. Podgornik, B., Paulin, I., Zajec, B., et al., Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 2016.
3. Jovičević-Klug, P., Podgornik, B., ECHT, 2019.