Dry Ice Blasting for Paper Mill Equipment

A few weeks ago, several of our employees worked on a dry ice blasting project at a paper mill in New England. This paper mill specializes in filtration products, engineered papers and industrial non-wovens. Employees of this particular paper mill needed to clean several of their paper and filter manufacturing machines. One of these particular machines was a large drier with nine massive rollers. Rather than clean these machines by hand as done in the past, the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. was chosen to clean the machines using its Nitrofreeze® Dry Ice Blasting Service. The plan was to clean three machines in a total of five days. One of these days includes a Saturday due to the New Year’s holiday.

I had the opportunity to go to the paper mill. The first day I went was to help get the equipment there, unload the truck, set-up our dry ice blasting equipment and start blasting the large drier. The first three steps went very smoothly and we started blasting at about 10:15AM. We decided to dry ice blast the two rollers at each end first before blasting the rollers above and in the middle of the machine. Each roller had a different degree of buildup that needed to be removed. In order to clean the rollers properly, we had to keep jogging the entire machine. Overall, it was a complex process, but the results were apparent. The rollers cleaned up very well and in far less time than it would take to do them by hand. Below is a picture of Robin dry ice blasting the roller. You can see the areas that have been cleaned on the roller.



Paper mill equipment is a good application for dry ice blasting. Rather than cleaning by hand with cleansers; dry ice blasting offers a safe, environmentally-friendly and faster way to clean. More surface area can be cleaned in a faster amount of time, reducing machine downtime. Dry ice blast cleaning also takes off contaminants without all the scrubbing which is labor intensive. If you are trying to reduce machine downtime while cleaning and want to be “green”, then dry ice blasting is a great way to clean. Below is a picture of a roller being dry ice blast cleaned. In the picture you can see the dry ice subliminating upon impact. This makes for less cleanup when compared to sand blasting, soda blasting and pressure washing.



If you would like to gain more knowledge about dry ice blasting, please visit our dry ice blasting webpage. We offer dry ice blast cleaning as a service to our customers. If you have an application that requires dry ice blasting, we are happy to come to your site and provide a no-cost assessment. We have completed many dry ice blast projects, but our specialty is heavy industrial equipment. For inquiries relating to dry ice blasting please email info@nitrofreeze.com or call us at (508) 459-7447.

Dry Ice Blasting for Vacuum Furnaces

It is amazing how dry ice blasting can be used to clean so many different types of surfaces. This week, we completed a dry ice blasting job at Bodycote Thermal Processing in Worcester, MA. The objective at this facility was to clean the interior of the vacuum furnace before a new coating was applied. The vacuum furnace was to be cleaned using our Nitrofreeze® Dry Ice Blast Cleaning process and then a special coating was to be painted on to protect the chamber. Come watch our dry ice blast cleaning of a vacuum furnace video.

The vacuum furnace had been taken off line and some parts were removed to make cleaning easier. I had the opportunity to take photographs of the vacuum furnace before, during and after dry ice blasting. The furnace was in good shape for its age considering it was manufactured in 1979. Vacuum furnaces are used for brazing, sintering and heat treatment. These furnaces are widely used because air and other gasses are not present, which could cause contamination. Below is a picture of the vacuum furnace that we cleaned.



The door and inner chamber of the vacuum furnace needed to be cleaned. The door had a white residue on it that needed to be dry ice blasted before the new coating was applied. In addition, the inner chamber had the same white residue and a few other types of buildup on it. Below are pictures of the vacuum furnace door and chamber before dry ice blasting.



Dry ice blasting was a great cleaning application for this vacuum furnace. The furnace cleaned up very well and quite easily. We used a larger air compressor that gave us a higher pressure to clean the vacuum furnace at. This made cleaning the furnace much easier than other industrial machines we have cleaned in the past. Below is a photograph of Robin dry ice blast cleaning the door of the vacuum furnace.



After a day’s work, the dry ice blasting job was completed. The results were quite impressive. The residue that needed to be removed was blasted right off. Below are pictures of the vacuum furnace door and chamber after dry ice blasting. Both our customer and our company were highly satisfied with the results. Now, our customer can paint the coating on to the interior of the chamber without worrying about it lifting.



For more information about our Nitrofreeze® Dry Ice Blast Cleaning service, please visit our dry ice blast cleaning web page. If you have any questions or comments about dry ice blast cleaning, please email info@nitrofreeze.com or call us at (508) 459-7447.

Carbon, Retained Austenite and Cryogenic Treatment

All heat treated steels have a certain percentage of retained austenite after heat treatment has been completed. The goal of heat treatment is to convert as much austenite into martensite. Ultimately, martensite is the most desirable crystal form as it is the toughest and strongest form. However, heat treatment does not remove all of the retained austenite from the steel.

Cryogenic treatment of heat treated steels will help improve the overall martensite crystal content in the steel that is treated. By lowering temperatures down to -120°F or below, it is possible to remove the retained austenite from the heat treatment process, while achieving a 100% martensite crystal structure.

As many of you know, steel is made up of carbon and iron. Carbon is the element that enhances wear resistance in steels. The higher the carbon content, the more wear resistant that steel will be. Tool steels such as A2 or D2 are rich in carbon. Cryogenic treatment enhances carbon clusters through the precipitation of eta-carbides. This helps an already wear resistant steel become even more resistant.

It is important to mention that the amount of retained austenite is directly proportional to the amount of carbon found in the chemistry of various steels. For example, a tool steel with a high carbon content will have significantly more retained austenite after heat treatment than a steel with a lower carbon content. A graph below shows the proportionality of retained austenite to carbon.


Therefore, cryogenic treatment will be of great benefit to high carbon steels as it will transform a greater amount of retained austenite while improving the wear resistance. Through the conversion of retained austenite to martensite, the high carbon steels will become more durable and will lack the voids and imperfections that untreated steels will suffer fatigue failures from.

The bottom line is cryogenic treatment will enhance high carbon steels micro-structure significantly while enhancing wear resistance factors. Due to the link between retained austenite and carbon, high carbon steels will benefit considerably more from the crystal structure transformations than steels with less carbon content. For more information, please visit our cryogenic treatment webpage. If you have any questions or comments, please call (508)-459-7447 or email rtaylor@nitrofreeze.com.

Happy Holidays from the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc.

The team at the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. would like to wish our customers a happy holiday and happy New Year. It’s a great time of year to remind our customers, that without them we would not exist. Rather we grew this year in spite of the economic downturn. Thank you for a great year. Below is our holiday schedule to help you with scheduling.

Friday, December 25: OFF
Friday, January 1: OFF
The rest of the time we will be here.

Again, we would like to wish you, your friends and family happy holidays.

Cryogenic Institute Receives ITAR Registration: Press Release

The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. recently had its ITAR registration approved by the U.S. Department of State. It was a logical step for our company to attain ITAR registration to better serve customers in the optical, defense and aerospace industries. That way we can serve them on their most sensitive and confidential projects with the highest level of security and confidence. Below is our press release on the matter that was submitted to news agencies last week. If you have any questions or comments, please send me an email at rtaylor@nitrofreeze.com.

The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. Receives International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Registration

Worcester, MA – November 11, 2009 – The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc., a U.S.-based cryogenic service provider to the global marketplace, announced the approval of its International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registration from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. ITAR is a collection of regulations created to control the manufacture, export, and transfer of defense articles, information, and services. ITAR works to keep defense technology and information within the hands of U.S. persons only. The only exception to this is when the Department of State grants special approvals for foreign subjects.

The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. has put in place controls and procedures to act in compliance with ITAR issued regulations. The U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) now recognizes the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. to work with all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The DDTC facilitates the ITAR registration under authority created by the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc.’s approval for ITAR registration recognizes the company’s capability to handle items controlled by the U.S. Munitions List and be in compliance with governmental and international regulations. The company became ITAR registered as of October 13, 2009.

“As we see our customer base expand within the aerospace, defense and optical markets; it was a natural step to seek ITAR registration in order to support our customers on their most advanced and sensitive projects,” stated Robin A. Rhodes, President of the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. “Through ITAR Registration, we will be able to better serve our customers in these industries, while assuring our clients of the highest levels of confidentiality and security,” Rhodes added.

The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. commonly supplies specialty cryogenic processing services for sensitive components used in military, aerospace and defense applications. “We are the only cryogenic deburring and deflashing operation with ITAR registration and we expect this technology to grow even more from the weapons and defense sector,” stated Ryan M. Taylor, Product Marketing Specialist of the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. Services that are expected to expand due to ITAR registration include cryogenic treatment, liquid helium processing, thermal cycling, shrink fitting, cryogenic deflashing and cryogenic deburring. “ITAR registration is yet another way that we distinguish ourselves from other providers in the marketplace,” Taylor added.

For more information about the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc., please visit www.nitrofreeze.com.

The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc., located at 90 Ellsworth St. Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, (800) 739-7949, is dedicated to the commercial application of cryogenic technologies to serve the needs of industry, government and scientists. The firm offers a full range of Nitrofreeze® cryogenic services, including cryogenic burr removal service, cryogenic deflashing services, conventional cryogenic treatment, heat & freeze thermal cycling, shrink fitting services, and dry ice (CO2) blast cleaning. It also offers engineering services, cryogenic lab work in support of R & D, and custom equipment design for new and unique cryogenic applications. It is a corporate sustaining member of the Cryogenic Society of America and ASM-The Material Society.

The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. Receives Approval for International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Registration

As of October 13, 2009, we are an International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registered company. We are proud to announce the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs decision to approve our ITAR registration. ITAR is a set of regulations created to control the manufacture, export and transfer of defense articles, information, and services. These regulations work to keep defense technology and information within the hands of U.S. persons only. The U.S. Department of State is the only body that can grant special approvals for outside subjects.

We are now the only cryogenic service provider that we know of that is an ITAR registered company. This will better help us serve our defense industry customers with their most sensitive projects. Our company has put controls and procedures in place to act in compliance with ITAR issued regulations. The U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) now recognizes the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. to work with all branches of the U.S. military. The DDTC enforces ITAR registration under authority created by the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).

Any ITAR related projects will be protected with the highest levels of security and confidentiality at the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. It is expected that defense, aerospace, and optics industry suppliers will be better served by our company with the addition of ITAR registration.

We have many customers and potential customers that require ITAR registered vendors. Our services including cryogenic deburring, cryogenic deflashing, cryogenic treatment, liquid helium processing, thermal cycling and shrink fitting may now be used by customers with ITAR related projects. That way, their projects are protected and confidential while receiving our high-quality cryogenic services. We take pride in this new development and will continue to better serve our customers in any way possible.

Rubber Expo - October 13 thru 15 - Cryogenic Institute exhibits

The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. will be exhibiting at the Rubber Expo 2009 & 76th Technical Meeting in Pittsburgh, PA for three days this month. The Rubber Expo will occur between Tuesday, October 13 and Thursday, October 15. On Tuesday and Wednesday the show will be open from 10:00AM to 5:00PM. The show will run from 10:00AM to 3:00PM on Thursday. We will be located in booth 1050 which is in the very back of the complex. The Rubber Expo will take place at the David H. Lawrence Convention Center located at 1000 Fort Duquesne Boulevard, in Pittsburgh, PA.

To visit booth 1050, simply enter through the front entrance and walk down the 1000 Aisle, which is located just a hair to the left. We will be at the very end of that row on the right hand side. The booth will show up in the directory under the company name, Cryogenic Deflashing and Deburring Systems. Unfortunately, our partners at Cryogenic Deflashing and Deburring Systems will be unable to make the trip this year to the Rubber Expo. However, we are happy to make the trip since we are located, locally on the East Coast.

At the show we will be exhibiting several of our products available to the rubber industry. One service includes cryogenic deflashing which is used to remove mold flash from rubber, silicone, polymer, and plastic parts. We offer our deflashing process as a service, but also act as a broker for the machinery that we use in-house. Another service we will exhibit includes cryogenic deburring, which is for the removal of burrs from plastic machined parts. We utilize the same machinery to remove burrs from parts that we use to remove mold flash. As a result, we can bring cryogenic deflashing and deburring machines in-house to fit seamlessly into your current operations. We will also exhibit two other services that can help the rubber industry. One is dry ice blast cleaning to remove any residue from molds that is unwanted. The process is non-abrasive, fast, and reduces cleanup time since dry ice evaporates when it hits the surface to be cleaned. Additionally, molds and rubber related tooling can be cleaned while hot, to further reduce downtime. The final service we will market is cryogenic treatment. Cryogenic treatment can be used on tooling and molds to increase their lifetimes. Cryogenic treatment enhances metals through increasing wear resistance, relieving residual stresses from the manufacturing process, and creating a tougher overall metal.

To learn more about the show and to purchase tickets, please visit the link below.

http://www.rubber.org/expos/

We hope that you can join us in Pittsburgh, PA at the Rubber Expo between October 13 and October 15. If you have any samples of parts that you would like us to review and run a sample process on, then please bring them to the show. We will make sure to complete a sample run of them upon our arrival back in Massachusetts.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Ryan Taylor at (508) 459-7447 or send an email to rtaylor@nitrofreeze.com. Come and stop by our booth, remember it is booth 1050, which is under the name Cryogenic Deflashing and Deburring Systems. We hope to see you at the show!

MassPlastics 2009 - Nitrofreeze Exhibit - Free Admission

In just a few weeks, The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. will be exhibiting at the MassPlastics 2009 tradeshow in Fitchburg, MA. The MassPlastics show will start Wednesday, October 21st and will end on Thursday, October 22nd. The show hours for Wednesday are 10AM to 6PM. On Thursday show hours will be from 10AM to 4PM. The MassPlastics tradeshow provides a forum for the Northeastern United States’ plastics industry. Exhibitors from both local companies and global corporations will be at the show, displaying the newest in cutting-edge technologies to enhance productivity, increase efficiency, and solve problems.

The MassPlastics tradeshow will take place at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel & Trade Center on 150 Royal Plaza Drive, in Fitchburg, MA 01420. The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. will be exhibiting at booth 313. If you enter from the front of the building near registration you would walk towards the left side of the building. We are located in the 300 aisle in a corner booth on the left hand side. Our corner booth is located at the intersection of the 300 aisle and the main aisle that stretches the entire length of the building.

We would like to extend free admission to any of our current or potential customers. I have included a link to the MassPlastics website, where if you pre-register now, you will receive free admission. Once you arrive at the show, you simply need to pick up your pass at the registration booth near the entrance. The link to pre-register and get free admission is below.

MassPlastics 2009 Free Admission

At the show we will be exhibiting the services that we offer to the plastics industry. One is cryogenic deflashing for the removal of excess mold flash from molded parts. The second offering will be cryogenic deburring, which is used to remove burrs from machined parts. These two service offerings are non-abrasive (they will only remove the flash and/or burrs) and are cost-effective, thanks to batch processing. Both services are also safe (your parts do not come into contact with liquid nitrogen and will not have any dimensional change) and are environmentally friendly. At the show, our third offering will be our dry ice blast cleaning service for plastic machinery including molds and lead screws. The process can clean molds and other plastic machinery to like new condition. Since the dry ice evaporates on contact as it hits the surface to be cleaned, cleanup time is reduced significantly. This service is EPA, USDA, and FDA approved making it a safe and environmentally-friendly way to clean. For molds in particular though the service is non-abrasive, so it will not ruin molds. Rather it will just remove any buildup that has collected in them. The fourth and final service we will be exhibiting is cryogenic treatment. Cryogenic treatment is an inexpensive cost-cutting service that makes tooling and molds last longer, while reducing fatigue failures. Cryogenic treatment promotes residual stress relief in metals, converts retained austenite into martensite (creating a more uniform crystalline structure), and increases were resistance. We have seen many part lifetimes increase by at least two times and often even longer. This is an ideal service to cut costs and reduce downtimes for changing tooling.

We would like anyone who is having deflashing or deburring issues to bring sample parts of their application. We can review the parts, see what kind of issues that you are having, and also run a free sample. The same goes for cryogenic treatment, if you have a few small pieces of tooling that you would like cryo treated, we can run those too.

If you have any questions about the MassPlastics 2009 tradeshow, please call Ryan Taylor at (508) 459-7447 or email me at rtaylor@nitrofreeze.com. Also, if you have any questions or comments about samples or our services, please use the above contact information.

For more information about the services we will be exhibiting at MassPlastics 2009, click a link below.

Cryogenic Deflashing
Cryogenic Deburring
Dry Ice Blast Cleaning
Cryogenic Treatment

Make sure to pre-register and get free admission to the MassPlastics 2009 tradeshow. Remember, we will be at booth 313. We hope to see you at the show!

Dry Ice Blasting Creosote Wood Joists and Floorboards

The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc.’s dry ice blast cleaning manager, Ian Scott and I headed out to Boston on September 24 to complete a dry ice blasting project involving wood joists and floorboards. The job was to be completed in a single day’s work. The room to be cleaned was situated to the side of an alley way that was located off of a one-way street. We had to position our air compressor on a curb and then run hose down the alley to the back room. Additionally, our dry ice blasting machine needed to be brought down several steep stairs, which required the use of a ramp. Setting up the job took much less time than expected considering the logistical issues associated with the dry ice blasting job.

The objective of this project was to clean wood joists and the bottom of floorboards in a soon to be renovated dining room. The wood needed to be cleaned to a bare finish that was smooth. Ideally, the end result would look like brand new fresh wood that had been installed. Before even starting our dry ice blasting process, the wood looked very old and worn. It had a feathered texture and in some sections was stained and had dirt on it. Regardless, it looked like something dry ice blast cleaning would fix without issue. It was a humid day and since we were blasting in an enclosed area between the joists, it was very hard to see the surface being blasted. The floorboards cleaned up well, but it took several sampling efforts to get the right finish.

The joists on the other hand were a completely different story. The joists seemed at first to have been stained at some point in their lifetime. But, once we started dry ice blasting the joists, a certain smell started to permeate the room, even through our respirators. The joists appeared to have been made of what would remind you of utility pole wood. After doing some further reading on the subject, I discovered that it is quite likely that the wood was finished in creosote. Creosote was created as a wood preservative dating back to 1831. The house we worked in which was over 120 years old, may have had creosote protected wood joists, which prevented us from getting the clean that both us and our customer desired. We were only able to bring a wood stain look back to the joists. Unfortunately, we were unable to bring them back to bare wood. The wood seemed to have been soaked completely through with creosote and even after dry ice blasting the texture was still not smooth. It still had that feathered look.

I have included before and after photographs for you to view of the project.









Regardless, we learned something from this dry ice blasting project. First, creosote coated or soaked woods will not be able to be cleaned to a bare finish that looks like brand new unfinished wood. Rather dry ice blast cleaned creosote coated wood will look like it has been freshly stained. Second, wood timbers that have a rough finish (think utility pole wood) may not clean to look like smooth sanded wood. Therefore, dry ice blast cleaning will work on creosote treated wood, but not to the extent that we have seen on other wood cleaning operations.

For more information about our Nitrofreeze® Dry Ice Blast Cleaning visit our dry ice blasting page or call Ian Scott at (508) 459-7447.

Import Wars Racing Event at the New England Dragway in Epping, NH

On June 20, 2009 I had the opportunity to head up to Epping, New Hampshire to the New England Dragway. Although, I have visited many car shows for both new and classic cars; I have never visited a race track. Since I arrived very early in the morning, it was very desolate with just a few cars around. I knew that by the end of the day, I would see massive rubber smoke plumes and many performance tuned vehicles flying down the track.

The reason I headed up to Epping, NH for the day was because one our authorized dealers, Team XXX Racing was running an event called “Import Wars”. “Import Wars” is a racing event with a total of four track days. The first two have already transpired. The first was on May 23 and the second was on June 20. There are two track days left for the event. One will be on Saturday, August 29 and the finale will take place on Saturday, October 24. The final event is supposed to be the best of the year with hundreds of cars attending for the day. Even better, the competitors will all be looking to bring home the gold, and with it being the last event of the season, they will do whatever is necessary. It can be expected that spectators will probably see some blown up engines and transmissions that day, because limits will be pushed. Hence the reason why they might want to get wear items cryogenically treated before the final event.

If you would like to join the upcoming “Import Wars” events, then take a look at the Team XXX Racing site here at http://www.teamxxxracing.com. “Import Wars” involves index racing which is simply old-school drag racing. The racer has to do two things very well to win. First, the racer must cut a light very well. Second, the racer needs to run close to the index to become the winner.

As a sponsor for Team XXX Racing, we provided gift certificates to the 1st and 2nd place winners, as well as the top two semi-finalists. The same will happen at the next two events and hopefully, for many more years to come. The owner of Team XXX Racing, Rob Ingles, set up a display in the vendor section at the dragway. Team XXX Racing, Nitrofreeze, and Boston Dyno (http://www.bostondyno.com) all joined in the booth to provide our products and services. We met a lot of good people who were interested in motor sports and high performance vehicles. Many of them had limitless knowledge on import vehicles and performance parts. It was fun to get out there and finally meet the die-hard fans of racing and see their vehicles as well.

During the day I was able to see several races. Some were just ridiculous with vehicles flying down the track that you never thought could go that fast. Some even bounced up in the air as they took off from the line due to high amounts of torque. As stated earlier, there was a lot of burnt rubber in the air, especially before the cars lined up to race. Each would get a chance to burn some rubber before moving up to the starting line. It was a great way to spend a sunny but cloudy morning and afternoon.

The “Import Wars – Showdown” event resulted with the owner of Team XXX Racing, Rob Ingles, taking first place with his Acura RSX. The second place winner and runner-up did a great job too. Overall, it was a small showing for the day, but fun nonetheless. Unfortunately, rain had been predicted for much of the weekend and it had already rained for several days this past week. This resulted in many racers not attending the event, even though we ended up with a cloudy but sunny, humid day.

I will be attending the next two events, so feel free to come by and visit our booth in the vendor’s section. Remember, the dates are August 29 and October 24. If you have to pick just one, go in October; we are expecting a blow-out. Below are the links to the sponsors of “Import Wars”.

Http://www.nitrofreeze.com - Cryogenic Treatment for Motor Sports
Http://www.teamxxxracing.com – Race Club and Performance Parts Sales
Http://www.bostondyno.com – Dyno and Performance Tuning

That’s all for now, but we hope to see you at the remaining events. Thank you.

We Will Source Your Brake Rotors for Cryogenic Treatment

At the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. we offer cryogenic treatment for brake rotors and pads. In recent times, many customers have been asking if we can supply the rotors, complete cryo treatment, and then ship them to the customer...Now we can. We can get you OEM and aftermarket rotors and pads from different manufacturers including AC Delco, Brembo, Zimmermann, Raybestos, and others. This saves our customers on expensive shipping costs one way to our facility. Plus, due to our relationship with our vendors we are able to source our rotors and brake pads at significantly discounted prices. These discounts are then passed on to our customers.

If you are ready to cryogenically treat your brake rotors or pads, then give us a call at 800-739-7949. If you would like to know why you should cryo treat then please read on.

Here are the reasons why you should treat your brake rotors.

1. Treating your brake rotors will allow for better wear resistance. They will last longer as a result; often 200% to 300% longer.
2. Your brake rotors will wear more evenly. This will allow for a smoother stopping surface for faster braking.
3. Brakes will be able to dissipate heat faster due to better thermal properties after cryo treatment. This will reduce brake fade and allow for shorter braking distances.
4. Think of the labor savings. If you do not have to change rotors and pads for 100,000 miles then you will save on the labor of two or more brake jobs, which amounts to hundreds of dollars.
5. Cross-drilled rotors will see a reduction in cracking and develop cracks much later in life. Many customers have treated these rotors and have seen a 300% increase in rotor lifetime.
6. Customers have reported that cryo treated brake systems allow for more than 50 feet shorter stopping distances when hot.

For more information about cryogenic treatment for brake rotors, please visit Cryogenics for Racing. Please remember that non-metallic brake pads should not be cryogenically treated (I.E. ceramic or semi-metallic pads).

Cryogenically treated brakes are beneficial to fleet customers, racers, and every day drivers. You will enjoy safer braking, longer brake part lifetime, and best of all you will save money. We can source rotors and brake pads for you at great prices! As always, if you would like to provide your own rotors or pads we are more than happy to cryogenically treat them.

New Cryogenic Treatment Service for Racing Components Improves Performance

This press release was released to the internet today. I wanted to add it here too, so that all our customers could see it.

New Cryogenic Treatment Service for Racing Components Improves Performance

Worcester, MA – January 8, 2009 – The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. announces a new cryogenic treatment service that is specially tailored for racing and other high performance enthusiasts. The latest developments are the result of the company’s continuing commitment to meet the needs of the competitive motorsports market.

“We believe that our new treatment profile for motor sports customers provides the greatest control and longest duration of any cryogenic treatment process available”, stated Robin Rhodes, President of the Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc. As the company’s founder, he has worked closely with several race teams that have become world-record holders in their performance classes for motorcycles and modified stock cars. Others, including boat, ski mobile and kart racers, have been victorious in national, regional and local contests. “Cryogenic treatment of engines, drivetrains, and brake systems results in better performance, increased output and longer part life that helps race teams win more races”, added Rhodes.

The process of cryogenically treating auto parts has become widely adopted in professional racing circuits. Racing teams that compete in NASCAR, Formula 1 and other international racing circuits have been using this technology for years, usually behind closed doors in their very private - and pricey – professional motor shops. “Our Nitrofreeze® cryogenic treatment service modifies the metallurgical microstructure of critical racing components so that recreational racers can have the same competitive edge as the World’s leading professional race teams.”, Rhodes stated.

In practice, stock, modified or custom components are sent to the company’s processing lab in Worcester, Massachusetts, where they are subject to the proprietary Nitrofreeze® cryogenic treatment process. After treatment, the parts are returned to the racer or mechanic for any additional modifications and final assembly. Common parts for cryogenic treatment include all engine components, such as cam and crank shafts, pistons and rings, connecting rods and engine blocks. Drivetrain components, including clutches, gears and shafts, and brake rotors are also widely treated.

Cryogenic treatment of racing parts benefits the components in several ways. First, residual stresses from part fabrication are removed, greatly reducing distortion, warping and fatigue failures that are caused by crack propagation of stress lines. Second, steel components adopt a uniform grain structure, eliminating imperfections that improve thermal properties such as heat dissipation. This also reduces the coefficient of friction to produce less drag. Lastly, modifications to the microstructure improve toughness, increase part stability, and greatly enhance wear resistance. “By using our Nitrofreeze® cryogenic treatment service, racers can get increased horsepower and extend the high performance life of critical components, ensuring that they can finish the race, despite the grueling demands that race conditions create”, according to Ryan M. Taylor, Product Marketing Specialist at Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc.

More information about cryogenic treatment for auto and racing parts is available on the company’s web site at, http://www.nitrofreeze.com/racing.html.

The Cryogenic Institute of New England, Inc., located at 90 Ellsworth St. Worcester, MA, is dedicated to the commercial application of cryogenic technologies to serve the needs of industry, government and scientists. The firm offers a full range of cryogenic services, including cryogenic treatment, heat & freeze thermal cycling, cryogenic deflashing & deburring services, shrink fitting services, and dry ice (CO2) blast cleaning. It also offers engineering services, cryogenic lab work in support of R & D, and custom equipment design for new and unique cryogenic applications. It is a corporate sustaining member of the Cryogenic Society of America. To learn more visit http://www.nitrofreeze.com.

The Cryogenic Institute of New England Inc. was founded by Robin Rhodes and he first documented the widespread use of cryogenic treatment in motor sports applications in a paper he presented at the 23rd Heat Treat Conference of the ASM Heat Treat Society, the world’s preeminent technical body on thermal processing of metals. Both Rhodes and the company have been featured in numerous stories and technical articles about cryogenic treatment. Most recently, this has included being featured in the racing industry’s leading technical journal, Race Engine Technology, for its Nitrofreeze® cryogenic processing service.