Shot peening is a cold working process of metal surfaces in which the substrate metal is bombarded with a variety of media also known as a shot. Some of the different types of media used include steel shot, cut wire glass bead and ceramic bead.

It has become a common misconception that abrasive blasting is the same as shot peening. Though both processes are similar, shot peening is used for work hardening the substrate surface which applies a residual compressive stress layer on the metal surface. Whereas abrasive blasting is used to remove paint, corrosion and surface coating etc.

Shot peening is complex process; there are several different factors that contribute to the end result. The desired outcome of this process is a complete compressive residual stress layer that prevents any type of failure. Some factors that might affect the outcome of this process include hardness of metal, velocity, time, and angle of impingement, time, and velocity.

Why is Shot Peening Beneficial?

Shot peening the metal surface of the part increases the service life, and the resistance to stress, corrosion, cracking, fretting, galling, and fatigue failure.

Other surface treatments and hardening processes may help protect the surface from some of these conditions. However, the benefits achieved by the Shot Peening process increases hardening, closing of porosity, inter-granular corrosion resistance, and surface texturing.

What can be achieved through shot peening?

• Increase fatigue strength from 100% to 1000% depending on the specific part
• Prevent fretting and galling
• Prevent cracks from wear, corrosion stress and hydrogen embrittlement
• Enhance lubrication
• Close surface porosity in coatings
• With part weight reduction shot peen can also increase part strength
• Shot peening can also increase fatigue strength of damaged parts over the fatigue strength of new or unused parts

Who benefits from shot peening?

Your customers do and so do you! By providing a much stronger and longer lasting metal part.

It is well known that cracks will not initiate or propagate in a compressively stressed area. Any metal part in a high cyclical or pounding condition will benefit from shot peening

Any manufactured metal component will benefit from shot peening.