Surface modification by machine hammer peening and burnishing

A wide range of surface modification processes has been developed over the past decades. Beside the well-established processes such as shot peening, there are other emerging surface modification processes such as machine hammer peening with a potential of applications that still needs to be evaluated. Therefore, all surface modification processes using guided tools with periodic or continuous contact to the workpiece are compared in this paper. After a classification of the processes, the paper presents a systematic description by comparing the different technologies and it explains the proposed standardized nomenclature. It identifies the relevant physical mechanisms of the surface modifications processes and it compares the influences on surface roughness, residual stresses, work hardening and microstructure. One section is dedicated to the need of an accompanying quality assurance. Furthermore, the capabilities of different process simulation approaches are analyzed with respect to process mechanisms and the resulting surface layer characteristics. The service performance such as fatigue life, corrosion resistance, friction and wear are discussed based on best practice results. Finally, the paper discusses the actual and potential applications of surface modification processes: surface strengthening, post welding treatments, smoothing of tools and molds as well as surface structuring and embedding of coating materials.