The numbers that you are looking for depend upon the steel alloy in question and a detailed description of the heat treatment that it received. The main benefit of a cryogenic treatment is to complete the transformation of austenite to martensite. Most tool steels develop their hardened structure, martensite, during the quench as the temperature falls between about 600 F and 200 F. For some steel alloys, transformation to martensite may not be complete even at room temperature. In this case there is a significant amount of the high temperature microstructure called austenite that is retained after normal heat treating is completed. As an example, A2 and D2 are two tool steels that may retain more than 20% austenite after normal heat treating, and retained austenite may be undesireable for a number of reasons. Cryogenic treatments can sometimes transform much of the retained austenite to martensite, and this newly formed martensite is similar to the as-quenched microstructure. Since newly formed martensite is brittle and under great stress, cryogenic treatments must also include at least one temper after freezing. And often the cryo cycle may be performed in between normally scheduled multiple tempers. Due to the possibility of cracking, the material should be tempered at least once before performing any cryogenic treatments.
Maui