# US 2009/0260298 A1 · Cryogenic Treatment Systems and Processes for Grinding Wheels and Bonded Abrasive Tools > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260298 A1 - Document ID: US20090260298A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/425,129 - Filed: 2009-04-16 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-16 - Inventors: Larry L. Benoit; Robert C. Ferrell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260298A1 ## CPC - C21D 6/04: Hardening by cooling below 0 degrees Celsius - B24D 18/00: Manufacture of grinding tools {or other grinding devices}, e.g. wheels, not otherwise provided for - B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy - C21D 1/785: {Thermocycling} - C21D 9/22: for drills; for milling cutters; for machine cutting tools - C21D: MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass C23F17/00; unidirectional solidification of eutectic materials or unidirectional demixing of eutectoid materials C30B) - B24D: TOOLS FOR GRINDING, BUFFING OR SHARPENING (abrading-bodies specially designed for tumbling apparatus, e.g. abrading-balls B24B31/14; honing tools B24B33/08; lapping tools B24B37/11) - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER ## Abstract Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for treating grinding wheels and bonded abrasive tools. A process in accordance with an embodiment of this invention is a cryogenic thermal cycling process for grinding wheels and bonded abrasive tools. Grinding wheels and bonded abrasive tools treated by cryogenic thermal cycling processes in accordance with embodiments of this invention can exhibit improved performance and service life during comparison testing against untreated tools. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process to treat a bonded abrasive tool using a cycling chamber, the process comprising: (a) introducing a bonded abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, wherein the tool has a temperature of about ambient temperature; (b) introducing at least one cryogenic material into the cycling chamber, wherein the internal temperature of the chamber can be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the at least one cryogenic material; (c) decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool to about −275 degrees Fahrenheit (F) at a rate of about −1 degree F. per minute to about −3 degrees F. per minute; (d) increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool to about −80 degrees F. at a rate of about 1 degree F. per minute to about 3 degrees F. per minute; (e) repeating elements (c) and (d) at least twice; (f) further increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool to about 225 degrees F. at a rate of about 1 degrees F. to about 3 degrees F.; and (g) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool at about 225 degrees F. for about 240 minutes before reducing the temperature of the cycling chamber or the bonded abrasive tool to about ambient temperature, and resulting in a strengthened and toughened bonded abrasive tool. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature rate of element (c) is within the range of about −1 degrees F. per minute to about −2 degrees F. per minute. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2, further comprising (c1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool at about −275 degrees F. for about 15 minutes, and (d1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool at about −80 degrees F. for about 15 minutes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The process of claim 3, further comprising (e1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool at about −275 degrees F. for about 260 minutes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein introducing a bonded abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, comprises introducing an abrasive tool comprising at least one alumina-based material and one bond material of either resinoid or vitrified. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein introducing a bonded abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, comprises introducing an abrasive tool comprising at least one zirconia-based material and one bond material of either resinoid or vitrified. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein introducing a bonded abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, comprises introducing an abrasive tool comprising at least one alumina-zirconia based material and one bond material of either resinoid or vitrified. ### Claim 8 A bonded abrasive tool comprising: at least one abrasive material selected from the group that comprises at least one of alumina, zirconia, or alumina-zirconia; wherein the bonded abrasive tool is formed by a process comprising: (a) introducing the bonded abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, wherein the tool has a temperature of about ambient temperature; (b) introducing at least one cryogenic material into the cycling chamber, wherein the internal temperature of the chamber can be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the at least one cryogenic material; (c) decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool to about −275 degrees Fahrenheit (F) at a rate of about −1 degree F. per minute to about −3 degrees F. per minute; (d) increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool to about −80 degrees F. at a rate of about 1 degree F. per minute to about 3 degrees F. per minute; (e) repeating elements (c) and (d) at least twice; (f) further increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool to about 225 degrees F. at a rate of about 1 degrees F. to about 3 degrees F.; and (g) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool at about 225 degrees F. for about 240 minutes, and resulting in a strengthened and toughened bonded abrasive tool. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bonded abrasive tool of claim 8 wherein the temperature rate of element (c) is within the range of about −1 degrees F. per minute to about −2 degrees F. per minute. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bonded abrasive tool of claim 9, further comprising (c1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool at about −275 degrees F. for about 15 minutes, and (d1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool at about −80 degrees F. for about 15 minutes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bonded abrasive tool of claim 10, further comprising (e1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or bonded abrasive tool at about −275 degrees F. for about 260 minutes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The bonded abrasive tool of claim 8, wherein the element introducing a bonded abrasive tool into a cycling chamber comprises introducing a bonded abrasive tool comprising at least one alumina-based material and one bond material of either resinoid or vitrified. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The bonded abrasive tool of claim 8, wherein the element introducing a bonded abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, comprises introducing a bonded abrasive tool comprising at least one zirconia-based material and one bond material of either resinoid or vitrified. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The bonded abrasive tool of claim 8, wherein the element introducing a bonded abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, comprises introducing a bonded abrasive tool comprising at least one alumina-zirconia based material and one bond material of either resinoid or vitrified.