Cryogenic Tubes - Time for a Change

Everything NASA sends into space is preconditioned with a cryogenic treatment probably in helium. Generates more space. Tom

Years ago, after contacting and then receiving the reply below from 2 NASA scientists I decided to send my endpins for cello off to be cryo,'d. At first, I sent only the removable coupling tip from the rods. After treatment these tips were sent to members of the Cincinnati Orchestra for comparison and confirmation as they had purchased endpins from me a couple months prior that were untreated. They tried them and one member stated that whatever you just did please continue. The result was better sound with easier and faster string play. After that I send all elements and contents of the endpin to the lab to be treated. Some parts as small as 0.011 in diameter. 

Here is the post from years ago.

theaudiotweak

2,715 posts

11-14-2005 at 08:21pm 

This is an e-mail I received in response to questions I had after much heated discussion to the benefits and effects of cryogenic treatment here on Audiogon, this was in 2002.My inquiry was originally to a Dr. Louis Salerno at NASA. As I found out later Dr.Barron who most graciously sent this reply and is considered the leading authority on cryogenics in the United States.  Tom

Dear Mr. DeVuono:
November 23,2002
In your e-mail to Dr. Salerno (which was forwarded to the Cryogenic
Society of America office), you had asked about the effect of cryogenic
treatment on electrical conductors, such as copper, silver, and gold.

In general, the cryogenic treatment has a permanent effect (there is
no change in the wear properties with time), unless the part is heated up
into the annealing temperature range for the material. Properly heat
treated materials will maintain the effect of cryogenic treatment until the
material is heated into the annealing temperature range. The cryogenic
treatment produces a change throughout the bulk of the material, and not
just at the surface, also.

We have conducted experimental tests on lathe tool materials
(generally, high-alloy steels), in which we conducted wear tests for
samples subjected to various "on-the-shelf times" ranging from one day to
60 days, and we found no statistically significant change in the material
wear properties.

I trust this information will be of help.

Sincerely yours,

Randall F. Barron,PH.D
Professor Emeritus
Mechanical Engineering
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, Louisiana U.S.A.
 

Jump ahead today.

Today I received a box of materials back from the cryo lab and when I spoke to David about the treatment of tubes, he offered up that it takes nearly 12 hours longer to safely treat the tubes than other materials. If you don't follow a careful sequence of temperature control moving slowly down and then backup, they can fracture.

David said he treated a tube belonging to a singer songwriter who lived nearby. This tube was from the musicians' microphone used in his home recording studio, 
demos he makes which are then sent to LA for editing. The engineers at the studio said they heard a noticeable improvement in fidelity in the recordings sent after the cryogenic treatment. The musician songwriter co-wrote 5 songs for the movie Top Gun.  Tom

5 that he had a hand in writing and composing for the movie. Tom