Chilling manganese bronze valve guides
 

Will liquid nitrogen change the properties of these guides? Make them softer, wear differently?

Thanks
Craig


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Bronze (70-30%) no problem, used all the time for liquid hydrogen apps.
Magnisum gets a bit brittle at extreme - temps, but this shouldn't matter for guides.
I see no mention of extreme cold changing the temper on either metal.

The freezing of the guides will be an extremely short lived event, the hot aluminum head's thermal mass will suck the cold right out the relatively small guide within seconds of contact.

I'm not an expert but searching the web came up with this document from Air Products which indicates it improves the wear characteristics of metals.

You’re Getting Colder: Liquid Nitrogen’s Role in Improving Metal Part Performance

Top fuel dragsters commonly play with the deep freeze for transmission gears et. Some good info on YouTube.

I assume your thinking is ease of installation not property enhancement.
I don't know how bronze guides will react to extreme cold but we cryo lots of parts as SOP. Mostly cast pieces (rockers, brake parts, rings) but some techs swear by cryo in gear box parts, axles, pulleys and the list goes on.