Laser Peening
Technical Development
Metal Improvement Company (MIC) has been in the forefront of developing the technique and commercialisation of laser peening technology for improving the performance of critical parts.
Laser Peening imparts a very deep compressive layer with minimal cold working providing a good surface finish further reducing the effect of contact fatigue and corrosion attack that can lead to premature failure. In addition the lower levels of cold work enable greater retention of the residual compressive stress under high thermal or applied loads.
Laser Peening has been used for several years to prolong the fatigue life of critical aerospace components and is now being used to Peen Form wing skins to achieve the requirements of the new generation of intercontinental aircraft. Laser Peen Forming, essentially performs the same role as Shot Peen Forming, but takes over where Shot Peen Forming capability has been exhausted.
Precision Application
Laser Peening offers the designer the ability to surgically place compressive residual stress into key areas of a component to prevent crack initiation and growth which enables increased fatigue strength ratings.
Protection against material failures
- Induces deep level residual compressive stresses
- Inhibits crack initiation and propagation
- Enhances fatigue life
- Resistance to stress corrosion cracking
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Increased performance
Process
In the laser peening process, a beam of laser light is fired at the surface of a component to generate pressure pulses of 7GPa, which sends shock waves through the part introducing residual compressive stresses up to 10 times deeper than conventional shot peening.
Multiple firings of the laser in a pre-defined surface pattern will impart a layer of residual compressive stress at and below the surface that can be tailored to suit the product and potential failure mechanism or enable higher potential loads through weight sensitive designs.
MIC operates a mobile laser peening unit which enables us to bring this technology directly to our customers on site.
