A Review on Effect of Cryogenic Treatment on Wear Resistant Bearing Materials for Automotive Application

Notice

This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 02 | Page :
    By

    Ravi Sharma,

  • Manish Singh,

  • Ratnesh Kumar Sharma,

  • Balveer Singh,

  • Mukesh Kumar Chowrasia,

  1. M. Tech Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Poornima University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
  2. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Poornima University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
  3. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Poornima University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
  4. M. Tech Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Poornima University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
  5. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Poornima University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Cryogenic processing has come as a successful supplementary process to common heat treatment, especially in improving the wear-resistant performance of materials employed in in-vehicle applications. This sub-zero processing is normally performed following quenching and before tempering, during which materials are subjected to extremely low temperatures, typically around -196°C, for prolonged periods of 24 hours. Cryogenic treatment, which involves subjecting materials to extremely low temperatures, has demonstrated promising results in changing the mechanical characteristics and microstructure of certain metals and alloys. Ferrous and non-ferrous alloys are among the materials whose mechanical and microstructural characteristics are drastically altered by this operation. Better hardness, dimensional stability, and wear resistance are achieved in ferrous materials like tool steel and bearing steel through the precipitation of fine carbides and the encouragement of retained austenite to convert to martensite through cryogenic treatment. Likewise, secondary phase precipitation, which boosts strength and durability, is aided by non-ferrous elements like magnesium and aluminium alloys. These changes are especially useful in the automotive industry, where items like bearings are frequently subjected to heavy mechanical loads, varying velocities, and harsh thermal environments. This article delves into the literature available on how cryogenic treatment affects bearing steels and other wear-resistant materials. In addition to qualitative microstructural changes as defined by microstructural techniques like X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, it highlights improvements in mechanical qualities like hardness, toughness, and wear resistance. The relationship between improved tribological performance in treated samples and microstructural refinement is the main focus. According to the report’s conclusion, cryogenic treatment has significant promise for extending the bearing materials’ operating life and dependability under challenging automotive settings. Additional research is, however, suggested to optimize treatment parameters and investigate its suitability for newer grades of material.

Keywords: Cryogenic treatment, Heat treatment, Alloying element, Wear Resistance, Cryogenic Materials properties, Automotive applications.

How to cite this article:
Ravi Sharma, Manish Singh, Ratnesh Kumar Sharma, Balveer Singh, Mukesh Kumar Chowrasia. A Review on Effect of Cryogenic Treatment on Wear Resistant Bearing Materials for Automotive Application. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-.
How to cite this URL:
Ravi Sharma, Manish Singh, Ratnesh Kumar Sharma, Balveer Singh, Mukesh Kumar Chowrasia. A Review on Effect of Cryogenic Treatment on Wear Resistant Bearing Materials for Automotive Application. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=239301


References

  1. Sonar, T., S. Lomte, and J.M.T.P. Gogte, Cryogenic treatment of metal–a review. 2018. 5(11): p. 25219-25228.
  2. Amini, K., et , Influence of different cryotreatments on tribological behavior of 80CrMo12 5 cold work tool steel. 2010. 31(10): p. 4666-4675.
  3. Jovičević-Klug, and B.J.M. Podgornik, Review on the effect of deep cryogenic treatment of metallic materials in automotive applications. 2020. 10(4): p. 434.
  4. Zhirafar, , A. Rezaeian, and M.J.J.o.M.P.T. Pugh, Effect of cryogenic treatment on the mechanical properties of 4340 steel. 2007. 186(1-3): p. 298-303.
  5. Thornton, W., Investigating the effects of cryogenic processing on the wear performance and microstructure of engineering materials. 2014, University of Sheffield.
  6. Adewunmi, A., THE UNIVERSITY OF 2015.
  7. Stratton, J.H.J.o.H.T. and Materials, Cold treatment of tool steels. 2012. 67(2): p. 106-110.
  8. Joshi, , et al., Effect of cryogenic treatment on various materials: A review. 2015. 14: p. 1-11.
  9. Surberg, C., et al., The effect of cryogenic treatment on the properties of AISI D2. 24(7-8): p. 863-867.
  10. Villa, M. and M.A. Somers. Cryogenic treatment of steel: from concept to metallurgical understanding. in Proceedings of the 24th International Feration for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering Congress, Nice, France. 2017.
  11. Klug, P.J., MECHANISMS AND EFFECT OF DEEP CRYOGENIC TREATMENT ON STEEL
  12. Prudhvi, and V.V.J.I.J.I.R. Lakshmi, Cryogenic tool treatment. 2016. 2: p. 1204-1211.
  13. Ciski, , et al. Multistage cryogenic treatment of X153CrMoV12 cold work steel. in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. 2018. IOP Publishing.
  14. Dumasia, C.A., et al., A review on the effect of cryogenic treatment on metals. 4(7): p. 2402- 2406.
  15. Podgornik, , et al., Deep cryogenic treatment of tool steels. 2016. 229: p. 398-406.
  16. Podgornik, , et al., Performance of low-friction coatings in helium environments. 2012. 206(22): 4651-4658.
  17. Senthilkumar, D., et al., Influence of shallow and deep cryogenic treatment on the residual state of stress of 4140 steel. 211(3): p. 396-401.
  18. Thornton, , et al., The effects of cryogenic processing on the wear resistance of grey cast iron brake discs. 2011. 271(9-10): p. 2386-2395.
  19. Jurči, P., et al., Metallurgical principles of microstructure formation in sub-zero treated cold-work tool steels–a review. 106(1): p. 104.
  20. Das, , et al., Sub-zero treatments of AISI D2 steel: Part I. Microstructure and hardness. 2010.527(9): p. 2182-2193.
  21. Senthilkumar, J.E.o.I., Steel,, T. Alloys, and G. Totten, Colas, R., Eds, Cryogenic treatment: Shallow and deep. 2016: p. 995-1007.
  22. Niessen, , et al., Martensite formation from reverted austenite at sub-zero Celsius temperature.49: p. 5241-5245.
  23. Collins, N.J.A.m. and processes, Cryogenic treatment of tool steels. 1998. 154(6): p. H23.
  24. Gill, S.J.J.o.E.R. and Studies, Machining performance of cryogenically treated AISI M2 high speed steel tools. 2012. 3(2): p. 45-49.
  25. Akincioğlu, , H. Gökkaya, and İ.J.T.I.J.o.A.M.T. Uygur, A review of cryogenic treatment on cutting tools. 2015. 78: p. 1609-1627.
  26. Akgün, and H.J.S.A.S. Demir, Optimization of cutting parameters affecting surface roughness in turning of inconel 625 superalloy by cryogenically treated tungsten carbide inserts. 2021. 3(2): p. 277.
  27. Mukkoti, V.V., et al., Effect of cryogenic treatment of tungsten carbide tools on cutting force and power consumption in CNC milling process. 6(1): p. 149-170.
  28. Lebrun, P., An introduction to cryogenics.
  29. Myeong, , et al., A new life extension method for high cycle fatigue using micro-martensitic transformation in an austenitic stainless steel. 1997. 19(93): p. 69-73.
  30. Diekman, , Cold and cryogenic treatment of steel. 2013.
  31. MING, J., Cryogenic treatment of music wire. 2004.
  32. Pellizzari, M.J.l.m.i., Influence of deep cryogenic treatment on the properties of conventional and PM high speed steels.
  33. Yan, X. and D.J.W. Li, Effects of the sub-zero treatment condition on microstructure, mechanical behavior and wear resistance of W9Mo3Cr4V high speed steel. 302(1-2): p. 854-862.
  34. Collins, and J.J.N.H.T.C. Dormer, Deep gryogenic treatment of a D2 cold-vuork tool steel. 1997.71.
  35. Park, -H., et al., Cryogenic mechanical behavior of 5000-and 6000-series aluminum alloys: Issues on application to offshore plants. 2015. 68: p. 44-58.
  36. Jaswin, and M.J.I.J.E.T.M.A.S. Dhasan, Effect of cryogenic treatment on corrosion resistance and thermal expansion of valve steels. 2015. 3: p. 2349-4476.
  37. Gogte, C., et al., Effect of cryogenic processing on surface roughness of age hardenable AA6061 2014. 29(6): p. 710-714.
  38. Yao, , et al., Effect of deep cryogenic treatment on microstructures and performances of aluminum alloys: A review. 2023. 26: p. 3661-3675.
  39. Dhokey, , et al., Microstructure and mechanical properties of cryotreated SAE8620 and D3 steels.1(1): p. 23-37.
  40. Jovičević-Klug, , et al., Effect of deep cryogenic treatment on surface chemistry and microstructure of selected high-speed steels. 2021. 548: p. 149257.
  41. Inamura, T., et al., Fatigue life extension by nano-sized martensite particles in steels. 3: p. 1761-1766.
  42. Shimojo, M. and Y. Higo, Formation of Nano-sized Martensite and its Application to Fatigue Strengthening, in Amorphous and Nanocrystalline Materials: Preparation, Properties, and Applications. 2001, Springer. p. 186-204.
  43. Gu, K., J. Wang, and Y.J.j.o.t.m.b.o.b.m. Zhou, Effect of cryogenic treatment on wear resistance of Ti–6Al–4V alloy for biomedical applications. 30: p. 131-139.
  44. Vega, N.C., et al., Electrical, photoelectrical and morphological properties of ZnO nanofiber networks grown on SiO2 and on Si nanowires. 16: p. 597-602.
  45. Pillai, S.M., M. Ravindranathan, and S.J.C.R. Sivaram, Dimerization of ethylene and propylene catalyzed by transition-metal complexes. 86(2): p. 353-399.
  46. Sonar, T., et al., Processing, microstructural characterization, and mechanical properties of deep cryogenically treated steels and alloys–overview. 66(4): p. 567-583.
  47. Vadivel, K. and R.J.T.I.J.o.A.M.T. Rudramoorthy, Performance analysis of cryogenically treated coated carbide inserts. 42: p. 222-232.
  48. Ajuka, L.O., et al., Wear characteristics, reduction techniques and its application in automotive parts–A review. 10(1): p. 2170741.
  49. Jurči, and I.J.M. Dlouhý, Cryogenic treatment of Martensitic steels: Microstructural fundamentals and implications for Mechanical properties and wear and Corrosion Performance. 2024. 17(3): p. 548.
  50. Volokitina, , et al., Application of Cryogenic Technologies in Deformation Processing of Metals. 25(1): p. 161-194.
Ahead of Print Subscription Review Article
Volume 14
02
Received 06/12/2025
Accepted 05/01/2026
Published 27/03/2026
Publication Time 111 Days
70

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics