The cryogenic, or deep freeze process involves the introduction of liquid nitrogen into a chamber which causes the nitrogen to gasify and bring the temperature in the chamber down to -300 degrees F. This deep freeze process has the following hardening effects on steel:
- Transforms soft retained austenite to hard martensite
- Creates greater wear resistance in the material
- Durability enhancement
- Stabilizes size
- Can be used as a shrink fit mechanism