In the aerospace industry, surface quality is not just a cosmetic concern — it directly impacts fatigue life, structural integrity, and flight safety. Shot blasting and shot peening technologies play a critical role in achieving the stringent surface preparation standards required for aerospace components, from turbine blades to landing gear assemblies.
Aerospace components undergo multiple surface treatment stages during manufacturing. Shot blasting serves three primary functions:
Surface cleaning: Removing forging scale, heat-treat oxidation, and machining residues
Surface preparation: Creating optimal surface profiles for thermal barrier coatings, anodizing, and plating
Shot peening: Inducing compressive residual stress to dramatically improve fatigue resistance
The aerospace industry operates under the AMS 2431 specification for shot peening, which defines strict requirements for media type, size, intensity (Almen strip testing), and coverage. Key parameters include:
Media: Only conditioned cut wire shot (stainless steel or ceramic) is typically permitted
Intensity: Measured via Almen test strips in A, N, or C scales
Coverage: Minimum 100% with verification via fluorescent tracer or 10x magnification
Process control: Full traceability with machine parameter logging
Turbine blades and discs: Shot peening increases fatigue life by 300-500% on nickel-based superalloys
Landing gear components: Compressive stress layers prevent stress corrosion cracking
Structural airframe components: Surface preparation for corrosion-protective coatings
Engine mounts and fasteners: Prevention of hydrogen embrittlement and fatigue failure
| Component | Recommended Media | Typical Intensity |
|---|---|---|
| Titanium airframe parts | Stainless cut wire CW-32 | 0.006-0.012A |
| Nickel turbine blades | Ceramic Z300 or CW-28 | 0.008-0.015A |
| Steel landing gear | Stainless cut wire CW-41 | 0.010-0.018A |
| Aluminum structural | Glass bead or CW-20 | 0.004-0.008N |
Q: What is the difference between shot blasting and shot peening in aerospace?
A: Shot blasting is primarily for cleaning and surface preparation, while shot peening is a controlled process that induces compressive residual stress to improve fatigue life, per AMS 2431. Peening requires precise intensity control (Almen strips) and full documentation.
Q: Can standard steel shot be used for aerospace components?
A: No. Carbon steel shot introduces iron contamination risk on titanium and nickel alloys. Aerospace applications require stainless steel cut wire shot or ceramic media per AMS 2431 specifications.
Q: How is shot peening coverage verified?
A: Coverage is typically verified by fluorescent tracer dye applied before peening, then examined under UV light — no dye remaining indicates full coverage. Alternatively, 10x magnification visual inspection per AMS 2431 is accepted.
Shot blasting and shot peening are indispensable processes in aerospace manufacturing, directly contributing to the safety, reliability, and service life of critical flight components. For precision shot blasting equipment meeting AMS 2431 standards, visit our product page or contact our engineering team.
