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Frequently Asked Questions:


What is Cryogenic tempering? What happens during deep cryogenic tempering? What items or materials can be successfully treated? Will my materials become more brittle? Will the material become damaged? Is there a need to re-treat materials after sharpening? How long does cryogenically treating take?

Cryogenic Institute of New England 90 Ellsworth Street Worcester, MA 01610 Tel: (508) 459-7447 (800) 739-7949 Fax: (508) 459-7426

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What is Cryogenic tempering? Cryogenic Tempering is the process of deep freezing materials at Cryogenic temperatures (300F). It has been proven to increase the strength and durability of the material being treated, relieve stress, create a more uniform material, and micro-smooth surface.
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What happens during deep cryogenic tempering? During the process of deep cryogenic tempering austenite is transformed into martensite, which is then then tempered to change into tempered martensite. In addition, small complex carbides called eta carbides are precipitated out. This greatly reduces residual stress and promotes "micro-smoothing" of the surface.
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What items or materials can be successfully treated? There are many applications for different materials which can be treated. Look under Applications for a complete list. If a material that you want treated is not on the list then contact us and we would be more than happy to advise you on whether or not is is a good candidate for Cryogenic Tempering.
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Will my materials become more brittle? Will the material become damaged? No. The strength of the material is actually increased after the process. The molecular structure is "filled in" increasing the strength of the material by up to 400%! Also, the material will not be damaged and it will retain its shape.
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Is there a need to re-treat materials after sharpening? Cryogenic Tempering is a one time, permanent and irreversible process. It is a "through" process, not a surface treatment. In fact, in the case of blades or drill bits, the sharpness will not only last longer, but you will be able to sharpen more times with less removal of material. Each sharpening will demonstrate the benefits of the treatment.
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How long does cryogenically treating take? The process takes several days to complete, depending on the material being treated. To learn more about specific times for certain applications please contact us and we will answer any questions that you might have.

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