Cryogenics being used by racers to improve durability and life span of engines and other parts

Cryogenics, or deep cryogenic tempering is the technical name for the process, which dates back to NASA in the 1960's and before. And One Cryo is a company that has moved the technology to the track. 

Cryogenics is used in the aerospace industry to stabilize the optical systems in telescopes that study the universe and is an integral part of the construction and manufacturing of large space telescopes, satellites and interplanetary space probes as well as ground-based observation and research platforms. 

Actually, the government had a dedicated cryo lab that opened in Los Alamos back in 1952. 

Now the process is being used in NASCAR/Winston Cup, Busch Series and NHRA, especially, with Pro Stockers Kurt Johnson, Larry Morgan and Tom Martino. Late Models and Modified and Sprint Cars as well as motorcycles and competition sports cars can also benefit from cryogenics. 

The applications are seemingly endless. Duffers can have their golf clubs done by the process, while it's also proved very helpful for strengthening gun barrels and softball bats.

In another field, definitely not to be confused with deep cryogenic tempering, is cryonics, which is freezing of the body of a person who has just died in order to preserve it for possible resuscitation in the future, as when a cure for the disease which caused death has been found. 

On a much happier note, cryogenics is the extended preparation and freezing of parts down to 300 degrees below Fahrenheit for a period of between 24 and 36 hours. That's oversimplifying the process, but this new approach to longevity has many satisfied customers across the spectrum of motorsports. 

There are a number of companies practicing cryogenic tempering, but this report dwells specifically with ONE CRYO.

If it strikes you as strange that a company dealing in freezers is located in sunny Florida, consider that One Cryo bills itself as the "World Leader in Deep Cryogenic Tempering." And Hey, Jim Kelly did pretty well after leaving the University of Miami and playing in icy Buffalo. Then, too, most major racing teams visit Florida one or more times during their seasons. 
 

More Cryo Info... A partial shopping list for One Cryo (8 cylinder engine): Push Rods, each ... $3  Valves (each) ... $3  Camshaft (each) ... $30  Brake Rotor (each) $25-$65  Ring & Pinion, set ... $100  Crankshaft ... $150  Heads (each) ... $130  Transmission Gears (set) ... $150  Engine Block, bare ... $375  Complete Engine Assembly, Long Block ... $660

"Cryo is application specific chemistry that determines the change in material and there can be three main benefits," 

Before going to the fridge,  Cryogenists lists those plusses: 

• An increase in wear resistance. 
• Increase in dimensional stability. 
• And finally, an increase in stress relief. 

Perhaps simply put, the process realigns and places molecules (cold contracts, heat expands) achieving uniformity, strength and durability. 

Let Keith - General Manager give us the details. 

"As any machinist knows, working metal stresses into the finished part. Forging welding, cutting, machining all cause stress to build up in the structure of a part. 

"Stress relieving (usually by heating to a specific temperature and then cooling at a modified rate or by vibration) can restore the part to a lower level of internal stress. Unlike some heat treatments, deep cryogenic treatment creates a more uniform molecular structure that goes completely through the part, not just on the surface, and eliminates all internal stress. This results in a large internal contact area which also improves heat and wear properties and reduces friction. 

"Another plus, is the increase in tensile strength and thermal dimensional stability exhibited by parts that have been subjected to deep cryogenic treatment," Keith says. 

Another way to say it is that parts subjected to heat (internal engine parts, for example) tend to grow, causing clearances to change. Parts such as cranks flex under the stresses of operation, causing harmonics to be introduced which can lead to hammered caps and bearings and increased friction. 

"By deep cryo treating, these engine internals, parts' growth and deflection can be greatly reduced. The end result is a more efficient engine, with more power, less friction, less heat and greatly enhanced strength," Keith says. 

Unlike coatings, deep cryogenic tempering is one-time, irreversible treatment that affects the entire structure of the part, not just the surface, providing reduced wear, warpage, cracking and galling as well as increased stress relief and dimensional stability. They also note that parts you wish to have treated should be cryo'd (if that's the correct verb) prior to final machining to ensure that all tolerances are correct and that you achieve the smoothest possible surface. 

One Cryo uses a proprietary, fully digital control system to ensure accurate procession and record logging at all times of the treatment cycle. 

We'll follow a part about to be cryo'd and offer a brief description of the steps. 

More complete information can be obtained by calling One Cryo, visiting their website, www.onecryo.com, or by contacting other companies listed at the end of this report. 

First the part is placed in an exclusive state-of-the-art One Cryo Processor at room temperature and then it is cooled at one-degree per-minute. 

Finally, in the last step, a triple heat temper to +300F for (3) one-hour cycles with a one-hour cool down in between. 

A conventional heat treatment must be done prior to the cryogenic process in order to achieve the maximum benefit from the cryo treatment. Further, cryogenic tempering is not a replacement for conventional heat treating. It is more like icing on the cake. 

The system is controlled by a multi-function digital controller which monitors several thermal couples attached to the processing chamber along with the one attached to a sample piece of the material to be processed. This ensures maximum performance at all times as well as a fail-safe backup. 

The freezing process is controlled by a computer. The computer has pre-determined profiles for each part to be treated. 

During the process there are a number of things which happen. As the molecules in the part get colder, there's less entropy, less energy, they slow down and get closer together and better bonds form. 

Anywhere there is a weak molecular bond, or no bond, that's where the fracture zones are, and that's where the part is going to break. 

When the part is slowly returned back to room temperature, the bonds stay in place, so you've got more durable part. 

If a client wishes to check back, a record of each cycle is held on file for a period of one year. In addition to those items mentioned earlier, cryo-processing today is used for new and used parts as well as for sharp and dull tools including end mills, drill bits, inserts, punch dies, press dies, forging dies, circular slitters, cutters, gears and hobs. In specific applications, it increases tool steel life as much as 300 per cent. It isn't unusual to increase the life of carbide inserts 400 to 600 per cent, tests indicate. 

Back to racing again: 

"Tests have shown that the wear resistance of deep cryo-treated parts is absolutely phenomenal," Keith says. 

"A small block Chevy sprint car engine that was deep cryo treated ran an extra season, over 1,000 laps at 8,000 to 8,500 rep (with no breakage) and showed less than .00025 wear on the cylinder (That's 1/4 of one-thousandths). 

"Normal wear to be expected on a motor like this would be in the neighborhood of two to three thousandths (.002 to .003). 

"The upside is that here is a process that can increase your horsepower and torque, reduce the internal friction and stresses in your engine and make your parts last 50 to 500 per-cent longer. 

"The down-side," Keith says with a grin, "is that soon all of your competitors are going to find out about deep cryo treatment." 

"The bottom line is it just makes parts last longer, so you can afford to go racing more often," he says.