· Process time is reduced
substantially (it usually lasts from
12 to 20 hours).
· The results are usually better.
It is an environmentally friendly process
and it produces absolutely no waste. The
CRYObest® process does not
alter the aspect and dimensions of the treated components.
It is performed in an inert atmosphere
and there is no oxidation or colour change.
In fact, one of the characteristics of
the process is that it is undetectable.
The changes in the material occur in the
micro-structural level.
A wide variety of
materials can be treated:
· Steel (cold working,
hot working, HSS, inox…)
· Aluminium alloys
· Copper, brass…
· Carbide
· Ceramics, polymers…
CRYObest® process
does not substitute conventional heat treatment.
It is an extension of quenching and tempering.
The effects of the process depend on the
material and the application but, in general,
the following benefits are obtained:
· An
increase in wear resistance.
· More fatigue life.
· Stress relief. Dimensional stabilisation.
· Better thermal and electrical conductivity.
Of course, this process is not a cure-all.
The effectiveness is strongly related to
the application and has to be tested in
real conditions. Sometimes the results
are impressive, other times simply good
and sometimes there are no results. However,
in most cases it is worth to have a try
putting the materials through the process.
It
is a permanent treatment that affects the
whole mass of the treated component.
This implies that a treated tool or part
can be re-sharpened or modified without
loosing performance (it is not a surface
treatment). Once a material is treated
it will not be necessary to treat it again.
Additionally, the CRYObest® process
is compatible with the coatings that are
common in industry today (PVDs, CVDs, etc.)
and works well in conjunction with them. But,
what is the explanation for the
improved performance after treatment? What happens
to the treated materials? To be honest,
there are still a lot of questions remaining
nowadays.
It is known that low temperatures
allow a better transformation of retained
austenite
in martensite, a harder and stronger steel
phase. Cryogenic temperatures also promote
the precipitation of small carbides. These
facts could partially explain some of the
results obtained in steel but not all and,
of course, they does not explain the results
in other materials.
There are theories that
point to slight changes in the micro-structural
lattice.
At deep cryogenic temperatures the micro-structure
would show a tendency towards a better
configuration with a reorganized lattice
with finer grains and fewer defects.
It
is clear that greater basic research is
necessary in the future to deepen our
knowledge about what is actually happening
in the materials during CRYObest® treatment. |
