Shot peening

Shot peening is a versatile surface treatment process that is used in both industrial and manual applications. It involves spherical abrasives - often made from materials such as steel, glass or ceramics - being propelled at high speed onto the surface of a workpiece by compressed air or a rotating blast wheel. The main purpose of this treatment is to modify the surface properties of the material to make it more suitable for specific requirements.

The process is primarily used for cleaning, compacting or structuring surfaces. The impact of the blasting media creates a localised plastic deformation that causes the surface to become denser. This leads to an increase in the mechanical strength of the material and makes it more resistant to cracks, fatigue and corrosion. Shot peening is used particularly in the aerospace and automotive industries to extend the service life of highly stressed components such as gear parts, springs or turbine blades.

Another advantage of shot peening is the cleaning of surfaces. It reliably removes impurities such as rust, scale or paint residue and creates a uniform surface that is optimally prepared for subsequent coating or painting. The roughened structure allows the coating to adhere better, which increases the durability and quality of the end product. Shot peening requires precise control of the process parameters. These include the size, material and hardness of the blasting medium as well as the speed, blasting angle and distance to the workpiece surface. Depending on the desired effect, these parameters must be carefully selected and adjusted. Modern systems use computerised control systems to ensure uniform processing and high repeat accuracy.