Some of you may already be aware that brake rotors can be treated cryogenically to increase both their resistance to wear and also to prevent warping under race-like conditions or even repeated hard braking on the street (e.g., Powerslot makes "cryo-treated" rotors).
However, this same "cryo" process is alsofrequently used to strengthen/harden other automotive products, e.g., (1) engine parts such as crankshafts, pistons, rings, springs, valves, etc.; and (2) transmission parts (e.g., input/output shafts, forks, gearing and transmission housings).
Below is a (1) a basic explanation of the cryogenic process by a leading edge company involved in the cryogenic treatment of of both race-related and street automotive parts; (2) a sample lsit of what auto parts should and should NOT be cryogenically treated; and (3) links/contact information for the company involved, which, unlike a number of other companies involved in cryogenic treatment, charges by the lb. rather than a "per piece rate":
The
Cryogenics Explanation
The following is a explanation of deep Cryogenics and how it is used on an engine and its components as well as other automotive related parts..
If you look at the machined parts of an engine they appear very smooth to the naked eye and to the touch. But if you were to look at them through a high powered microscope you could see that they are not smooth at all. If you can envision your hand with your fingers spread apart, that is much like the machine areas before the Cryogenic treatment is performed. During the Cryo treatment the grain structure closes much like taking your other hand and squeezing your fingers together, thus making a better bearing surface with less drag and friction and therefore improved performance. Normally you will experience a slight increase in Rockwell of a point or two, not much of a change, but still improvement in the right direction. The big improvement is stress relief and stabilization. Engine parts, transmission parts , or any non cryogenic treated parts you are thinking about are full of stress and just waiting to distort when it reaches racing temperatures. All machined parts can distort if they have not been stress relieved. Pistons can change from round to oval due to stress and temperature. When this happens the piston drags the cylinder wall which takes horsepower away, creates heat, and wears the cylinder walls. It then requires the engine builder to rebore the cylinders by 2 to 3 thousandths. Cylinders that have been Cryogenic treated will normally be out of round only a 1/4 to a 1/2 of a thousandths, a big decrease in wear from a non treated cylinder. The end result of Cryogenics treatment of your engine is improved performance with far less wear and less breakage. What parts should be Cryo treated? All parts that wear, break, or distort. Sheet metal, electrical parts, water pumps, oil pumps, or fuel pumps should not be treated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following are various parts of an engine and what you can expect to occur after the Cryogenic treatment: BLOCKS: The treatment of the engine blocks should not only result in improved performance with less wear and breakage, but the stress relief and stabilization of the block should result in reduced distortion in other parts such as crankshafts and camshafts since they are no longer flexing and distorting. One instance with an aluminum Rodeck engine running in a winged sprint car during a season showed the engine blew five times, each suffering from a broken connecting rod. The next season using the same block only Cryogenic treated the owner notified us that after 31 races he had no engine part failures. The big difference now was increased performance which resulted in new chassis set-ups. CRANKSHAFTS AND RODS: Reducing the stress from the large mass made up of the crankshaft and rods can help them stay more in balance allowing for improved performance with reduced wear and breakage. PISTON ASSEMBLIES: The piston assemblies should not be treated with the rings installed on the pistons. Wrist pins should not be treated at all. Treating the piston assembly will help the pistons and rings remain round therefore maintaining a better seal which translates to more constant compression , improved performance and reduced breakage. HEADS: Heads both cast and aluminum are less prone to distortion and breakage following the Cryogenic treatment. If you have a set of good heads that are cracked send them to a good head repair company. They will grind out the crack, build up that portion that was cracked and machine it back to original specs. All these steps put stress back into the head, left untreated this will cause distortion and cracking can occur. Cryogenic treatment should be applied to the heads following repair then the finish machining can be done. CAMSHAFTS: Although camshafts don’t seem to suffer breakage, wear can be a problem With Cryogenic treatment this wear can be greatly reduced. VALVE SPRINGS: We have received many reports concerning the Cryogenic treatment of valve springs. Valve springs from 4-cycle go karts, quarter midgets, and motorcycles have often showed an increase in pressure (5-15%) and improved life of 100% or more. Automotive valve springs as well as Top Fuel drag cars have shown an increase in life. PUSHRODS, LIFTERS, VALVES: These should all be treated but do not have any really good feedback on advantages. ROCKER ARMS: Stock automotive to high quality rocker arms with bearings are good candidates for Cryogenics. INTAKE MANIFOLDS: Automotive intakes with carburetors should have the intake manifolds Cryogenic treated. If you have the block, heads, and all the internals Cryo treated, and thus stress relieved, it only makes sence to have the intake done as well. Bolting a non-Cryo intake to an engine that has been Cryogenic treated is only introducing stress back into the picture. RING AND PINIONS: Cryogenic treated these parts will show less wear and last longer. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PLANETARIES: By reducing wear and breakage of planetaries, the rest of the automatic transmission stays in proper alignment and therefore the rest of the transmission suffers less wear and breakage. INPUT SHAFTS: By Cryogenic treating of the input shafts wear and alignment can be a huge benefit. STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS: Even air shifted Pro Stock 5 speeds are operating with less wear and breakage. You should do the entire transmission completely disassembled, including the case. BRAKE ROTORS: Cryogenic treatment closes the grain structure of the rotors resulting in an increased contact area for the pad to touch against and also reduces the abrasiveness of the rotor against the pad therefore increasing pad life. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTACT INFORMATION (incl. email/phone/physical address): http://www.cryogenicsofindiana.com/index.htm
NB: charges quoted to date are $2.25/lb.
FYI: engine/transmission/gear hardening thru cryogenic treatment 
