Steel shot is also commonly used for shot peening, a process that involves bombarding a metal surface with small, spherical shots to improve its fatigue strength and resistance to stress corrosion cracking. The steel shots used for shot peening are typically smaller in size and hardness than those used for shot blasting.
When steel shots are used for shot peening, they are typically made from high-strength, high-carbon steel, and are manufactured to precise size and shape specifications to ensure consistency and uniformity during the process. The shots are propelled at high velocities using specialized equipment, which causes them to deform the surface of the metal and create compressive residual stresses.
Shot peening with steel shot has several advantages, including:
Overall, steel shot is an effective and versatile abrasive material for shot peening applications, offering improved fatigue life, resistance to stress corrosion cracking, and surface finish.