| Linde works with its customers to develop, optimize and troubleshoot sub-zero treatment (SZT; also called “cryo treatment”) processes, which involve cooling materials or components to temperatures as low as –195°C (-319°F). The use of SZT derives the following benefits:
· Improved part dimensional stability
· Enhanced wear resistance: Tool steels and medium- to high-carbon steels subjected to SZT experience wear resistance improvements of 100% or more
· Enhanced material strength and hardness
SZT processes can be divided into two different temperature regimes. “Cold treatment” describes SZT down to -73°C (-100°F), while “cryo treatment” normally describes SZT down to –195°C (-319°F).
Linde reliably provides high-quality supplies of the liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide used in SZT processes. Nitrogen, when vaporized during SZT, can be captured in gaseous form and used in other processes – ultimately reducing total production costs.
Shrink fitting, accomplished through cold treatment (see below), uses the difference in the thermal expansion properties of dissimilar materials to improve the intimacy of the fit between two portions of a part or assembly
Linde also offers various CRYOFLEX® model units that house the treated parts and carry out the actual SZT treatment.
To learn more about how SZT and CRYOFLEX can improve your materials processes, please Contact Us. |
