Technical Article

●What Is Shot Peening ?

Shot peening is a cold working process used to produce a compressive residual stress layer and modify mechanical properties of metals and composites. It entails impacting a surface with shot (round metallic, glass, or ceramic particles) with force sufficient to create plastic deformation.

In machining, shot peening is used to strengthen and relieve stress in components like steel automobile crankshafts and connecting rods. In architecture it provides a muted finish to metal.

Shot peening is similar to sandblasting, except that it operates by the mechanism ofplasticity rather than abrasion: each particle functions as a ball-peen hammer. In practice, this means that less material is removed by the process, and less dust created.

●What Is Shot Blasting ?

Shot Blasting is a surface finishing technique that involves rapidly impacting the surface of an object with a controlled stream of abrasive shot material. It is faster and more effective than filing for removing flash that my remain on a part after the casting or stamping process.

Shot Blasting is also used for removing burrs, scale and rust that may interfere with the part's integrity, appearance or definition. Shot blasting can also prepare the surface of a part for coating by removing surface contaminants and provide a surface profile for increased coating adhesion.

Shot Blasting is different than Shot Peening which is used to induce compressive stresses on a part's surface for increased fatigue life, increasing the part strength or preventing fretting.