The Effect of Cryogenic Treatments on 7075 Aluminum Alloy

The science of altering the room temperature properties of metals by first exposing them to extreme temperatures has been extensively studied and is very well understood. Although much of this work has involved studying the effects of high temperature thermal treatments, significant work has also been performed investigating the effects on properties by treating metals at cryogenic temperatures (near -196 °C). Cryogenic treatments were first shown in the 1930s and 1940s to improve the performance of steel cutting tools.[1] Over the decades, significant work has been conducted to measure and explain the effects of cryogenic treatment on steel.[2,3] Some research has also been conducted on nonferrous alloys. The effects of cryogenic treatment on the wear performance of copper alloy contact tubes for gas metal arc welding was investigated,[4] but no changes were observed