Frequently asked questions

Deep cryogenic treatment is a controlled process where metal components are slowly cooled to around -196°C using liquid nitrogen, held at that temperature and then slowly returned to room temperature. The full cycle takes around three days. The process changes the material at a microscopic level, improving properties such as wear resistance, hardness and dimensional stability.

Deep cryogenic treatment changes the microstructure of metal. In steels it converts retained austenite into harder martensite and encourages the formation of very fine carbides throughout the material. The result is a more uniform structure with improved hardness, wear resistance and dimensional stability.

No. Heat treatment and deep cryogenic treatment are separate processes that complement each other. Conventional heat treatment uses high temperatures to change the structure of a metal. Cryogenic treatment works at the opposite end of the temperature range, cooling the material to around -196°C. For many steels, cryogenic treatment is most effective when used as an additional stage after conventional heat treatment.

Yes. Deep cryogenic treatment is supported by academic research and more than 20 years of practical experience at Cryogenix. Depending on the material and application, treatment can improve wear resistance, dimensional stability and component life. Results vary by material, which is why Cryogenix assesses each application individually.

No. Our deep cryo process is computer controlled with slow temperature changes down to approximately minus 195 degrees Celsius, which avoids thermal shock. The chamber only ever contains gas, so parts are never exposed directly to liquid nitrogen.

No. Treated parts come back dimensionally unchanged and visually identical. There is no coating, no plating and nothing added to the surface. The change happens inside the metal at the crystalline level. That is why we recommend treating after final machining and before any surface finishing, so the benefit runs right through the finished part.

Yes. Aluminium and other non ferrous metals do not undergo the austenite to martensite change that steel does, but they still benefit from stress relief and a more stable crystalline structure. Aluminium alloys such as 7075 and 6082 have been studied at length and show improved dimensional stability and wear resistance. Copper benefits from improved conductivity, which is why audio customers treat cables.

In most cases, cryogenic treatment is best carried out after machining because machining can introduce additional stresses into the material. If cryogenic treatment is being used to improve machining tolerance or surface finish, treatment may be carried out before machining. For highly finished or coated parts, treatment is generally recommended before the final surface finishing or coating process.

Do not torque parts together, because different metals expand and contract at different rates. Lightly oil ferrous metals that could corrode. Where possible, remove pressed in bearings before sending.

The treatment cycle runs for three days. The slow descent to temperature, the hold and the slow return to ambient are all computer controlled, and rushing any stage would risk thermal shock. Add shipping time either side and most customers have their parts back within a week to ten days of a scheduled run.

We run a full deep cryogenic process roughly every four weeks and the cycle itself takes three days. Parts that arrive before a run go in that run. If you are working to a fixed race date or production deadline, tell us when you book and we will do what we can to fit you in. The next date is always published on our website.

The cost of deep cryogenic treatment depends on the type, size and weight of the components being treated. We generally charge by weight, with larger orders benefiting from a lower rate per kilogram. For particularly heavy orders, such as complete engines, we may be able to offer more cost-effective pricing. Weigh your package before sending it and contact Cryogenix for a quote so you know the cost in advance.

Both. Many of our customers are individuals sending a single pair of brake discs, a crankshaft or a set of speaker cables. Others send pallets of tooling every month. Because we price by weight, a single item is perfectly viable. It goes in the chamber alongside other customers' parts on the next scheduled run.

Yes, shipping is how most of our customers get parts to us. We recommend FedEx next day, which is trackable and good value. Roll individual components in cardboard so nothing can knock together in transit, put your name and contact details inside the box and send to Unit 2 Slater Court, Harrier Way, Yaxley, Peterborough, PE7 3SE.

Shipments are not insured as standard, but insurance can be arranged on request. Cryogenix normally uses next-day delivery services, with the courier selected according to the size and weight of the shipment. If you would like your components to be insured during return shipping, please let us know before dispatch so this can be arranged.

We are at Unit 2 Slater Court, Harrier Way, on the Enterprise Business Park in Yaxley, Peterborough, PE7 3SE. Yaxley sits just off the A1(M) and A15 south of the city, so it is easy to reach from the Midlands, East Anglia and London. Drop off and collection are welcome, and parts can be shipped from anywhere in the UK.

Cryogenix Ltd is based at Slater Court on Harrier Way in Yaxley, just south of Peterborough and a few minutes from the A1(M). We treat parts for customers across the UK, but if you are local you can drop off and collect in person, which is often the easiest option for bulky items like engine blocks or stacks of blades.

Cryogenix Ltd is a small UK business that has specialised in deep cryogenic treatment for many years. We have sponsored cryogenic research at the University of Leicester and publish a library of academic papers on our website. Our customers include race teams, engine builders, manufacturers and audio specialists who come back run after run because the results speak for themselves.

Coatings and surface treatments harden the outside of a part only. Once the surface wears through, the benefit is gone. Cryogenic treatment changes the whole part, inside and out, so a tool can be reground many times and still hold the improvement. The two approaches are complementary. Treat cryogenically first, then coat if the application calls for it.

Treating the discs you already use is usually the better value. Cryogenically treated discs typically last two, three or four times longer than untreated ones, run cooler and resist cracking and warping. That saves money on discs and on the pads that go with them, and it cuts pit time. Treating a good quality disc gives you the best of both.

Anything that sees heat, friction or shock load. Brake discs are the obvious one. Crankshafts, camshafts, pistons, connecting rods, cylinder liners, bearings, valve assemblies, flywheels, gearbox internals and differentials all respond well. Treated parts run cooler and wear less, so service intervals stretch and failures drop. Many race teams treat the whole drivetrain as a matter of course.

For most machine shops, yes. A treated drill, end mill or blade holds its edge longer, needs fewer regrinds and keeps tighter tolerances. One pallet manufacturer we work with extended band saw blade life from four days to two weeks. Because the whole tool is treated, the benefit survives every regrind. Treating a batch of tooling costs far less than the tools it saves.

Yes. Cutting wood, MDF, chipboard, paper, card and plastics is as hard on an edge as cutting metal, sometimes harder because of abrasive binders and resins. We treat guillotine blades, slitters, perforation tools, disc cutters, band saw blades and carbide tips for sawmills, pallet makers, joinery shops and print and packaging converters across the UK.

Treating copper refines its grain structure and improves conductivity, and audio enthusiasts consistently report a cleaner, more open sound with lower background noise. We treat bare wire, finished speaker cables, interconnects, mains leads, fuses, valves and transformers. It is a low cost upgrade compared with buying new cables, and it can be applied to cables you already own.