Cryogenic Treatment
If you are looking for a way to strengthen and improve the life span of a metal component, cryogenic treatment is for you. For example, race car drivers have seen brake rotor life double or triple, and full race engine assemblies have seen 3-5 times the working hours before a rebuild is needed.
So, what is cryogenic treatment? It's actually a process that tempers metals by thermally 'resetting' them at the molecular level. By using a proprietary computer-controlled process, the metal is cooled slowly to deep cryogenic temperatures (-300° Farenheit), and slowly returned to room temperature, then heat-tempered as the final step. This process creates a large amount of fine or small carbides that precipitate uniformly throughout the lattice structure. This greatly improves the wear properties of the metal being treated. The process also completes the martensitic phase change which creates a metallurgically improved and stabilized alloy.
Virtually all engine parts respond to cryogenic treatment. Treated piston rings seal better against treated cylinder walls reducing blow-by and increasing horsepower. Cylinder blocks do not distort when subjected to the heat and vibration of racing so cylinder bores stay straight and smooth. Aluminum pistons and cylinder heads resist detonation longer. Crankshafts and connecting rods have longer service life without breaking. Camshafts, bearings, timing gears, valves and valve springs, timing chains and tappets all last significantly longer under severe conditions. Essentially: cryogenically-treated racing engines last three to five times longer. The same is true in driveline components. Bearings, transmission and differential gears and cases, all respond to the process. Also, clutch disks and pressure plates are much less likely to warp after they have been treated.
| Component | Benefit |
| Engine assemblies |
Reduced cylinder wear, reduce crank wear and breakage |
| Connecting rods |
Strengthened rods for less rod breakage |
| Pistons |
Reduced skirt and wrist pin wear, improved ring sealing, more resistance to detonation |
| Heads |
Reduced warping even on aluminum heads, more resistance to detonation |
| Camshafts |
Reduced wear on lobes and bearing surfaces |
| Differentials and transmissions |
Reduced wear and breakage of bearings, gears, shift forks, selectors, and synchros |
| Wheel bearings |
Reduced wear and galling |
| Brakes |
Reduced rotor and pad wear, reduced warpage and cracking |
Custom applications are available upon request. Contact us for details.