Process Encyclopaedia

Peening

Overview

• Peening is only used for metals.
• All metals can have their strength improved by ‘working’ them – i.e. deforming them past the elastic limit. Peening only does this to the surface, by firing ‘shot’ (like small ball-bearings) at it. This can result in greatly improved fatigue resistance (useful for components which undergo cyclic loading such as turbine blades).
• Peening is flexible and relatively inexpensive unless significant automation is used.
• Peening can also be used for shaping thin sheets – but this isn’t a surface treatment!