Adding Power and Reliability with Deep Cryogenic Tempering

It's hard to admit, but much of our motorsports technology has come from military and aviation technology that has trickled down into our field, and recently the motorsports world has begun to accept this technology more widely. From the early days of racing until now, motorsports technology has been something tangible, you can see it work either on the track or hooked up to a dyno. Believing something works when you can't see it, touch it, hear it, or feel it, takes faith, until now.

Deep Cryogenic Tempering is the process of dry freezing materials to over 300 degrees below zero. The military and the federal government first tested cold treating in the early 1960's, but the process only dropped temperatures to around -120. In the early 1990's Pete Paulin designed a computer-controlled process using liquid nitrogen to transform the process to an exact science. The temperature of the metal drops at less than one degree per minute until reaching the target temperature, where it is then stabilized for many hours depending on the material composition and mass. When the Cryogenic cycle is complete, the temperature is slowly raised and heat tempered to finish the process.

One of the biggest questions is "How does this affect the parts?" It all starts with how the part is manufactured. When metal is drilled, machined, welded, stamped or formed the molecules are ripped, pushed, pulled, torn and basically thrown out of alignment. The deep cryogenic tempering process slows down the movement of these molecules and then restabilizes them into proper alignment removing the stresses caused by the machining process. The process also realigns the surface molecules resulting in a significant increase in wear resistance. To explain, imagine that an engine that has not been treated having a surface like sandpaper. After processing, the material has a smooth surface creating an almost glass like effect on the tempered part, reducing the friction dramatically and causing the treated part to last longer and work more efficiently creating more horsepower and reducing heat build-up that causes breakage.

The advantages of Deep Cryogenic Tempering are obvious once the treatment takes place. Mechanics and teams using the process claim improvements in fuel economy and compression, reduced engine vibration and smoother shifting. Mechanics who once tore down and replaced/refreshed parts after every other race are running a half a season before tearing down, and then only replacing piston rings, because they were the only item that had shown wear. The gains do not stop there; through extensive on-track testing deep cryogenically treated brake rotors improve also, resulting in an increase in rotor and pad life, and reduced fading and overall improved performance.

Overall it boils down to this, "The only way to finish first......is to first finish." and that is where cryogenic tempering can make it possible throughout your racing season.

Jeromy Havener
Motorsports Sales Manager
300 Below Inc. Decatur, IL
http://www.300below.com