Excellence in Aerospace and Defence Heat Treatment
Cryogenic processing is an extension of the heating - quenching - tempering cycle. It is designed to increase the amount of martensitic structure in the steel's crystal structure, increasing its strength and hardness. The precipitation of fine carbides (eta carbides) in the matrix during this treatment imparts very high wear resistance to the steels.
Although not a specific treatment covered by Nadcap, the process is incorporated in the treatment of super alloys such as Aermet used in landing gear components and stainless steels such as 440c for actuations and corrosion resistant steels such as 17-7 PH.
Part of the processing requirements and criteria whether AMS or OEM nominated is that materials post quenching and/or tempering are to be cryogenically treated at temperatures in excess of minus 73 centigrade.
