Fine Particle Peening: Review and Challenges

Author:  Kumar Balan
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 34, Issue 2, Spring 2020
Doc ID:  2020014
Year of Publication:  2020
Abstract:  
Why Are We Discussing Fine Particles? Automotive and Aerospace, the two common users of shot peening equipment, seldom refer to anything smaller than S110, or the equivalent in CW peening media. S110 is approximately 0.011" (0.28 mm) in nominal diameter. Smaller particle sizes are commonly used in thermal spray techniques. However, that is not always true. For instance, Japanese automakers have media that is smaller than the smallest SAE/AMS size of S70 for their peening operations. In “Fine Particle Shot Peening” (The Shot Peener, Winter 2010), Kathy Levy introduced us to this technique and also informed us of its history with our Japanese colleagues who continue to realize distinct advantages in terms of fatigue resistance among other attributes with its use. Kathy identifies the limited availability of this media in US and EU as one of its drawbacks but also contends that this is easily solvable.