The New Science - "How and Why"
Energy Path:
Through untreated molecular structure. Dissipation of energy causes vibration which results in metal fatigue.
During the Thermal Cycling process, the micro structure begins to particulate into smaller, regular micro structures.
Energy Transfer:
With Thermal Cycling processed material, the passage of energy is direct, eliminating vibration the main cause of metal fatigue.
The Thermal Cycling Process is not a surface treatment; it affects the entire mass of the component being treated, making it stronger throughout and dramatically reducing wear.
This means the process keeps working for the life of the component, rather than ceasing to be effective after the surface is worn or otherwise damaged. The hardness of the material treated is unaffected so there is actually less tendency to crack or chip, while its strength and durability is actually increased.
The ultra-cold temperatures, below - 200 C (-330 F) will increase strength and wear life of all types of vehicle components, machine components,
cutting tools, medical equipment and electronic devices to name a few.
In addition, other benefits include reduced maintenance, repairs and replacement of tools and components.
Thermal Cycling is a revolutionary material treatment process, generations ahead of conventional cryogenics, that extends the productive life
of materials in different ways. Materials to be treated are ferrous, nonferrous metals, metallic alloys, carbides, synthetics and ceramics.
This one-time process, developed over a ten-year period, is a tightly computer controlled procedure that subjects components to extreme temperature
variables over a controlled period of time. When metal is exposed to these extreme temperatures, the metallurgical characteristics change.
Thermal Cycling reduces micro vibrations, internal stresses, corrosion and significant dampening takes place. Dampening and vibration reduction
of the metal translates into enhanced performance. The shape of the metal is never altered.
METALS:
Metallic items must be properly heat treated before they are Thermal Cycled. With heat treating alone you can only change some of the austenite into martensite.
The Thermal Cycling technique efficiently removes heat to transfer almost every austenite into hard martensite. By realignment of the grain structure, metal relieves stresses.
This realigned grain structure in turn provides better component performance by decreasing the resistance to wear and component drag.
NOT CRYOGENICS:
This is a process that not only realizes the positive effects of cryogenics, but also significantly reduces, or eliminates damaging high frequency vibration in metal components.
In components utilizing binders such as carbides and PCD's, Thermal Cycling shows improvements as high as 300% life increase. Thermal Cycling causes a stress relief
to take place in the binder, which results in a severe reduction in micro cracking.
Our custom Thermal Cycling is a precise computer controlled operation with an average time of 24 hours to run a complete process. Starting at ambient,
the temperature is lowered to greater than -190̊C. The component is then soaked for a predetermined period of time. Depending on the material, Mass and the desired
results being sought, the component is taken through a specifically designed cycle profile within that deep cold temperature to complete the Thermal Cycling process.
MECHANISMS:
The mechanisms underlying the greatly improved mechanical properties brought by Thermal Cycling vary depending on the material being treated, however they include:
• precipitation hardening
• particulate reinforcement
• dislocation modification
• grain refinement
Because in our treatment, these mechanisms are operating cyclically and in temperature ranges not previously visited, Thermal Cycling is continuing to
provide new applications for optimizing the performance properties of materials.
Depending on the material, the process has the potential to improve:
• toughness
• wear resistance & durability
• fatigue strength
• vibration dampening
• heat discharge
• tensile strength
• dimensional stability
• binding of coatings
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