Cooling, cryogenic shrink-fitting
To increase certain mechanical properties and the dimensional stability of certain steels whereby the curve of the end of martensite transformation occurs at below room temperature, it is recommendable to carry out supplementary thermal treatment using cryogenic gas (at temperatures down to -120°C) to obtain the complete transformation of the residual austenite. This treatment can be performed using cryogenic cabinets together with cryogenic products (liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide), and distribution plants with vacuum lines suitable for transferring gases in liquid form from cryogenic cabinets. SOL also offers specialist advice on process design, start up and optimisation.
Cryogenic gas is also used to permit the forced coupling of two mechanical components by cooling the component that acts as a joint, a process called cryogenic shrink-fitting, or by heating the component that acts as a housing. SOL supplies turnkey plant for cryogenic shrink-fitting, consisting of cryogenic gas (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) storage, distribution plant, the control of safety and the fill levels of the working chamber, together with advice on the coupling process.