[TheForge] cryogenics

[Dave Brown]

Tony,

Have you asked Mike Rock about this?  I asked him once and he explained it 
to me in those great big metallurgist terms and I was lost.  So he summed 
it up this way:  Doesn't do a thing.  He said something about when you 
freeze the steel, even at those super low temperatures, the metal structure 
shrinks but doesn't change shape or relationships.  When brought back up to 
room temperature it's right back where it started.

I'm not a metallurgist and don't know one end of the stick from another 
when it comes to this kind of knowledge.  But Mike, on the other hand, has 
the PhD's and stuff to support his claims.  He said he's tested it on the 
high power rifle barrels that he makes for his special clients and says 
there's no change.

But you're probably best off to check with him directly.

Dave Brown

At 08:26 04/01/02 -0600, you wrote:
>I've heard a lot over the years on the subject of freezing knife blades, gun
>barrels, and other assorted parts in an attempt to make them...better in
>some way I guess. What is exactly going on at the molecular level in a piece
>of metal when this treatment is used? People have told me that they have
>done this to brake drums on vehicles and it has increased the wear
>resistance.
>Does freezing a piece relieve stress, also what else does it do and has
>anyone ever had any experience with the process?
>
>T. Clark
>
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