Heat is needed to process ores into liquid metals, but is not actually the final production step. Pictures of molten metal cascading from huge buckets in steel plants are common, but few realize that extreme low temperatures also play a role in metal manufacturing, as well as in many other industrial applications. Cryo services get their name from the Greek word for icy cold, and involve a wide spectrum of processes and products.
Most people are aware of cryogenics from popular films. It is used to freeze people who have died in order to preserve them until medicine can find a way to revive them, and cure them of their fatal symptoms. Although that concept is thought-provoking, processing metals at very low temperatures is a more practical way to exploit ultra-low temperatures in order to make life better for current populations.
Durable, lasting products are a prime goal of manufacturers, who strive to produce metals and alloys that have increased strength. After the forging and casting process, metals are normally exposed again to very high temperatures. This eliminates some internal weaknesses that are characteristic of the crystalline formations still present. Austinite crystals are generally the weakest, but can be changed into stronger forms called martensite.
After being being subjected to controlled low temperatures, analysis usually reveals a substantial and beneficial decrease in the small imperfections normally left behind. Although not completely absent, the weaker structures are greatly reduced, making the metal less prone to failure. Increasing the amount of martensite is not the only advantage of this process, which also helps regulate the amount of carbon present.
Carbon levels, along with additional elements, determine to a large extent the tensile strength of steel, while also contributing to ductility and overall hardness. Extreme low-temperature processes increase the numbers of particles dubbed eta-carbides, for reasons that are not yet fully scientifically understood. These particles increase inherent hardness in a way that is measurable and visible using x-rays or an electron microscope.
The most common cause of breakage under stress is known as metal fatigue, and is one result of the small imperfections that develop when steel solidifies while cooling. These stress lines may be microscopic, but they provide an opportunity for the development of serious cracks during use. These minute faults are reduced by cold processing, adding to safety and durability, while resisting brittleness and abrasive edges.
These processes can be applied both to raw metal and to finished products such as tools. Companies providing the service combine both old analog and newer digital technology to treat these objects, often using a dry method. Following a precisely timed schedule, temperatures are maintained at super cooled levels, then brought slowly back to room temperature without damaging any related structures.
Metal producers are not the only beneficiaries. Frozen food makers use liquid nitrogen to freeze products containing vegetables instantly, preserving both nutrient content and freshness. Physicians are increasingly use special freezing tools to treat tumors and other skin problems, or to remove diseased tissue. Energy companies change gases to liquids for shipping. Cryo-processing and support have become irreplaceable in modern commerce.
Most people are aware of cryogenics from popular films. It is used to freeze people who have died in order to preserve them until medicine can find a way to revive them, and cure them of their fatal symptoms. Although that concept is thought-provoking, processing metals at very low temperatures is a more practical way to exploit ultra-low temperatures in order to make life better for current populations.
Durable, lasting products are a prime goal of manufacturers, who strive to produce metals and alloys that have increased strength. After the forging and casting process, metals are normally exposed again to very high temperatures. This eliminates some internal weaknesses that are characteristic of the crystalline formations still present. Austinite crystals are generally the weakest, but can be changed into stronger forms called martensite.
After being being subjected to controlled low temperatures, analysis usually reveals a substantial and beneficial decrease in the small imperfections normally left behind. Although not completely absent, the weaker structures are greatly reduced, making the metal less prone to failure. Increasing the amount of martensite is not the only advantage of this process, which also helps regulate the amount of carbon present.
Carbon levels, along with additional elements, determine to a large extent the tensile strength of steel, while also contributing to ductility and overall hardness. Extreme low-temperature processes increase the numbers of particles dubbed eta-carbides, for reasons that are not yet fully scientifically understood. These particles increase inherent hardness in a way that is measurable and visible using x-rays or an electron microscope.
The most common cause of breakage under stress is known as metal fatigue, and is one result of the small imperfections that develop when steel solidifies while cooling. These stress lines may be microscopic, but they provide an opportunity for the development of serious cracks during use. These minute faults are reduced by cold processing, adding to safety and durability, while resisting brittleness and abrasive edges.
These processes can be applied both to raw metal and to finished products such as tools. Companies providing the service combine both old analog and newer digital technology to treat these objects, often using a dry method. Following a precisely timed schedule, temperatures are maintained at super cooled levels, then brought slowly back to room temperature without damaging any related structures.
Metal producers are not the only beneficiaries. Frozen food makers use liquid nitrogen to freeze products containing vegetables instantly, preserving both nutrient content and freshness. Physicians are increasingly use special freezing tools to treat tumors and other skin problems, or to remove diseased tissue. Energy companies change gases to liquids for shipping. Cryo-processing and support have become irreplaceable in modern commerce.
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