We process most any material with very good results. The benefits for various materials may be different though. Tool steels will show an increase in abrasive wear life, whereas a non-ferrous metal like aluminum will not. However, aluminum will be stress-relieved, stabilized, show an increase in strength, heat dissipation and machinability.
We process a very wide range of items: Drills, taps, end mills, carbide inserts, planer knives, slitters, etc. Companies can immediately see improved cost savings through improved tool life and reduced machine downtime. We also process a wide range of automotive components: engines, axles, gears, radiators, and spark plugs. In addition, we treat rifle barrels, razors, interconnects, heat sinks, and more.
Yes. Our computerized deep cryogenic process is very precise and gentle. This is why we can process complete assemblies. At very cold temperatures, extreme pressures are placed on the molecular structure of the materials. This pressure helps realign and squeeze out stresses and imperfections. The benefits are improved electrical and thermal dissipation rates. The items processed are also stress relieved. We have processed complete components, i.e. amps and receivers with clients saying, "They operate cooler and sound cleaner." We do many power cords and interconnects in the complete and assembled state.
Yes. Our process improves CDs and DVDs dramatically. Users say around 15-20% sound improvement. The reason it works is very simple. These are polycarbonate injection molded disks. When the plastic cools from the mold, it sets up stresses from uneven cooling. These stresses or clouds in the polymer cause birefringence. After our process, these clouds are greatly reduced or eliminated, resulting in true, clear sound. For some reason we do not completely understand, skips, pops, and other problems can usually be eliminated with the process also. Treating the source of the information is a very inexpensive way to improve the sound quality of any audio equipment.
Our process does not change or alter the pits or lands in a CD or DVD. The pits and lands on a CD are at the far side of laser or closest to the label. The laser has to read the pits and lands through most of the thickness of the CD. If the polycarbonate is “cloudy”, than the player has to rely on over-sampling to “guess” what the digital information was. If the polycarbonate is clear, than the laser reads the exact information as it was intended. If a CD is dirty or has fingerprints all over it, it is harder for the laser to read the pits and lands. Our process is to the structure of the polycarbonate as a disk cleaner is to the fingerprints. When it comes to a scratch or other defect to the disk, we think that our process softens the rough edge of the scratch or problem area, enabling the laser to read the pits and lands.
No. A word of caution. Cryogenics is not cryogenics. There is different equipment and people performing this service out there. Not all use good equipment and some do not have the knowledge to perform the processing properly. Some actually shortcut the process or sometimes do not even process the material or even unpack the shipping box you send them. There unfortunately, is not one standard that absolutely everyone conforms to. We routinely process tools, knives, audio parts, etc. after they have already been processed by someone else and our process will yield superior results. Be Careful out there!
Yes, we use Liquid Nitrogen as the cooling agent to lower the temperature of our equipment to -320°F/-196°C. We have the liquid enter the system through a phase separator in order to change states. By doing this, we allow the nitrogen vapor to replace the air in the system. Our rate of descent and ascent are very slow and precisely controlled. Our rates will vary based on the size system we use and the amount/type of material in the system at any one time. It takes approximately 3 days to complete our process.
Yes, liquid nitrogen (LN2) is safe when handled properly. Our processing systems are closed, so no person ever comes in contact with the super cold liquid. Nitrogen gas constitutes approximately 78% of our atmosphere and is considered inert and non-hazardous. Our process is considered very environmentally friendly.
The only items that we have had a problem at very cold temperatures are items like screwdrivers with plastic handles. This is where the shaft of the screwdriver is heated and pressed into the plastic handle. This handle will sometimes crack with the process. Another is the greasy dip-it type coating that is placed on pliers, cutters, etc. Some adhesives like super glues and some epoxies may separate at super cold temperatures. Other than that, we have not experienced problems with differences in thermal contraction. We do many complex assemblies with steel pressed into aluminum, or steel and plastic bearing chases, populated computer boards, etc.
No. That is called cryonics. Cryonics = The practice of freezing humans who are not curable by current medical technology, in the hope that ways may be found to bring them back to life at some future time when ways of repairing the damage caused by the freezing process have been developed, as well as cures for the diseases or other causes of death which necessitated their cryonics suspension. See www.alcor.org
It is a term that confuses people regarding the deep cryogenic process. Tempering = In heat treatment, to reheat hardened steel or hardened cast iron to some temperature below the eutectoid temperature for the purpose of decreasing hardness and increasing toughness. I.e. "to soften".
In general, no. Most all studies show less than a 1Rc change in hardness. A hardness increase would also mean a more brittle part. The deep cryogenic process will make the part become much stronger and last much longer.
No. Our precise process will not change the look of your item being processed.
No. Our process alters the entire cross-section of the tool or part being processed. It is considered a one-time process that will last the life of the part. The benefits of our deep cryogenic process are for the most part permanent. When processed, the entire structure of the material is improved, not just the surface. The grain structure becomes "locked" in place. Atoms are always in motion at the molecular level. However, the changes created by the process are permanent unless undone by extreme heat.
No. The deep cryogenic process is a one-time process and may even provide better results after sharpening to a new edge.
Yes, you can use our process in conjunction with TiN, anodize, bluing, hard chrome, etc. You may find that the superior results appear after a combination of deep cryogenic processing and tool coating.
The Cryogenics International process takes about 3 days to perform. Our general rule is this – If we receive your tools or parts by Friday, we process over the weekend and return ship to you on Monday/Tuesday.
Cryogen = a substance for obtaining low temperatures. I.e., a refrigerant. In our case, LN2 or liquid nitrogen.
Cryo = Kryos from the Greek, meaning cold, freezing.
Cryogenic = of or relating to the production of very low temperatures.
Cryogenics = A branch of physics that deals with the production and effects of very low temperatures.