(1) The life of tap prolongs with cryogenic treatment compare with the tap without cryogenic treatment. The life of tap prolongs if cryogenic treatment is settled before tempering compare with cryogenic treatment after tempering.
(2) The advantage of cutting with cryogenic treatment is obvious when high hardness maertial is machined.
(3) -120℃ is the critical point if cryogenic treatment is accomplished before tempering. The life of tap changes little at -120℃~-196℃. According to it , W9 steel heat treatment process can be optimized. The lower the temperature is, the longer of life of tap is while cryogenic treatment is achieved after temper. It has something referential value for W9 steel cutting cryogenic treatment. This work is supported by Shanxi natural science foundation (No.2007031021)