Cryogenic Institute Expands, Adopts New Processing Capability

Nov. 18, 2010
Massachusetts center now able to offer cryogenic treatment and post-tempering in one unit

The Cryogenic Institute of New England Inc. has added a new cryogenic thermal cycling system to its range of services, allowing the Worcester, Mass., company to expand capacity and enhance its Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Treatment and Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Thermal Cycling services. These are processes used by customers in the defense, aerospace, electronics, and toolmaking industries, among others, to achieve residual stress relief and material stabilization, to improve wear characteristics, and to transform crystalline microstructures in metals.

“The introduction of this cryogenic thermal cycling unit allows us to work with customers on virtually any cryogenic treatment cycle between -310°F and +500°F,” explained Cryogenic Institute product marketing specialist Ryan Taylor.

The Cryogenic Institute of New England offers a full range of Nitrofreeze® cryogenic services, including cryogenic burr removal, cryogenic deflashing, conventional cryogenic treatment, heat-and-freeze thermal cycling, shrink-fitting services, and dry ice (CO2) blast cleaning. It also offers engineering services, cryogenic lab work to support R&D, and custom equipment design.

Cryogenic treatment, also called cryogenic tempering or cryogenic freezing, uses ultra-cold temperatures to modify the microstructure of metals or other materials. In addition to the above functions, the Cryogenic Institute explains that the treatments have value as cost-reduction and performance-enhancing steps.

The company recently moved to a new location in Worcester where it has more office space, additional space for quality control, and a new lab room, and it will be able to set up dedicated production areas for medical and other high-value components. “The production area has been designed using lean methodology to enhance efficiency, improve quality, work flow, and reduce production cycle times,” according to director of operations Bryce J. Trani.

Future plans call for installing a bulk liquid-nitrogen delivery system. The new cryogenic system is capable of following extreme process ramps and profiles that will meet any customers’ requirements. The Cryogenic Institute indicated this new system completes its proprietary cryogenic treatment process offerings.

“The introduction of our new cryogenic thermal cycling system will allow us to better meet our customers’ most advanced cryogenic thermal cycling profiles,” according to Robin Rhodes, president of the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc.

One important benefit of this thermal cycling unit is that parts will not need to be coated for rust-prevention before undergoing the cryogenic treatment process, and thus there is no need to clean them of oil between the freezing and heating cycles. “The new system allows parts to be cryogenically treated and then post-tempered all within the same unit, eliminating the need for parts to be oiled,” according to director of operations Bryce Trani. “Therefore, the process now involves two less steps, which allows us to pass this savings on to our customers,” he added.

The Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Treatment Service is offered on a weekly basis, starting on Friday and returning the parts the following Tuesday. The Nitrofreeze® Thermal Cycles are completed on an individual customer basis due to their unique cycling profiles. Typical process loads range from one pound to several thousand pounds at a time.

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